INFOKARA RESEARCH ISSN NO: 1021-9056

FISHERFOLK WOMEN: A STUDY WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO PATTINAVAR FISHERFOLK OF PUDUCHERRY

M.Premapriya1&Dr.M. Jeyaseelan2 Abstract:

The Fisheries sector is an important source of food, nutritional security, and livelihood for millions of people around the world. The role of women in fisheries plays a significant role in the post-harvest related activities viz. peeling, fish trading, export-oriented works, making value- added products, small scale entrepreneurship, fish curing, etc. Besides this, women also have the additional responsibility of household management, domestic chores, childcare, education, health, sanitation, financial management. Men, by and large, venture sea for fishing after which the work is taken over by women, making men independent of any additional burden. However, the case is different for women with the responsibility of both family and fisheries-related activities. While balancing both, they confront a myriad of issues in which the family related issues occupy the paramount place. Keeping this in mind, the current study explores the lives of Pattinavar fisher folk women of Puducherry to analyze and study the socio-economic conditions of the fishing-folk community with stress on the fisherwomen’s family issues. The primary data were collected through a series of scheduled interviews conducted in following six fisherman villages of Puducherry namely,Chinnaveerampattinam, , Vambakeerapalayam, Kurusukuppam, Vaithikuppam and Solinagar. The total household populations of six villages are 5,376. From each village 10 fisher folk women were chosen as respondents using the purposive sampling method together combining a sample size of sixty members. The study found that the majorities (66%) of women were under the middle age group and they had a middle school level of education. Most of the respondents (50%) had a monthly income level of Rs. 3000 to 5000. More than half of the respondents had 5-10 years of experience. Most of the respondents reported being victims of an alcoholic spouse.

Keywords: socio economic status, family problems, fisher folk,

1M.Premapriya, Ph.DResearch Scholar& ICSSR Research Associate, Department of Sociology, Periyar University, Salem – 11 2Dr.M.Jeyaseelan, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Periyar University, Salem – 11

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Introduction

Globally, women in fishing communities play multidimensional roles that include livelihood, household, reproductive and community ones. Their involvement in fisheries value chains is invisible in spite of being active in a wide range of harvest and post-harvest activities. Women have to come up with several challenges that affect their mental and physical vigor, the pattern of dependence on women for family management, gourmet, raising children, maintaining household chores along with financial management is similar throughout the fishing hamlet. In addition to this, women also become a victim of loan and debt burden which ultimately falls on their shoulders in spite of having a working male partner. The burden of her responsibility’s doubles in the off-season. Introduction of mechanization and intense multiday fishing have inversely affected the working pattern of women, household responsibility has also increased to a considerable extent.

There are about 0.5 million fisher households located along the Indian coast and a total of 3 million fisherfolk inhabiting the coastal villages. The average number of seafaring fishermen is 282 in a coastal village. Out of the 1.2 million fisherfolk involved in the post-harvest sector, women occupy a considerable proportion of more than 0.5 million. They play a significant role in the pre and post-harvest operations, they form an inevitable part of fisheries activities throughout the progressive stage. Their role in household management is also significantly higher. Most of the labor forces involved in pre-processing and post-processing plants of shrimps are women. Women also occupy a very good proportion of the workforce in export-oriented processing of cuttlefish, lobsters, and finfish varieties.

Pondicherry and Fishery – A Profile

Puducherry is the capital of Union Territory of . It is on the east coast about 162 kms. South of Chennai located at the Bay of Bengal. The Union Territory of Puducherry comprises of four coastal regions i.e. Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam. Puducherry and Karaikal are situated on the East Coasts in Tamil Nadu, Yanam on the East Coast in Andhra Pradesh, and Mahe on the West Coast in Kerala. The Union Territory of Puducherry has a total fishermen population of about 95,467 of whom 29,383 fishermen are actively engaged in fishing from 29 marine fishing villages and 23 inland fishing villages or hamlets scattered in and around

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about it. In total 52 marine and inland fishing villages are located in the coastal line as well as adjacent to the coastal line. Puducherry Union Territory has one harbour in Puducherry and one in Karaikal. Two harbours are under construction in Mahe and Yanam respectively. All the marine fishing villages are considered as the ‘fish landing centers’ by the fishermen of Puducherry Union Territory (Department of Fisheries, Puducherry, 2013). The Union Territory of Puducherry has a total coastal line of 45 kilometers, (approximately 0.55 per cent to the total Indian costal length of 8129 kilometers) of which 24 kilometers lies in Puducherry. About 1000 sq.km. of continental shelves are enriched with marine fisheries potential. The Union territory’s capital is the city of Puducherry (the total fishermen population is 95,467 (7.64 per cent of total population) of which 29,383 (30.77 per cent of active fishermen) fishermen are actively engaged in fishing. (Department of Fisheries, Puducherry, 2013)

Review of Literature

BijayalakshmiDevinogmaithem and Ajit Kumar Ngangbam (2014)in their articleon “Socio-economic conditions and cultural profile of the fishers in - a review”Observed as socio-economic conditions of the fishers in India are very low. Fishers generally have purse less education and live under improper housing conditions with a very low income from fishing, fishers supported a large member of family which compel the fisher’s to barrow credits to fulfill their basic needs. The incomes of the fishers were very low and remain circulation the vicious circle of poverty. India is a country with diversity were reflected in their culture and this cultural diversity were reflected in their fishing activities to training programmes and scientific orientations are avail at heterogeneous manner in most of the places in India. Therefore, the proper fishery management policies, effective input supply, technical and social support may improper livelihood of the fishers which will ultimately increase the overall fisheries productivity.

M. Dalin Marry et.al (2015)intheir article entitled on “Socio-economic status of fisher folks engaged in mussel fishery at Kanyakumar District of Tamil Nadu, India” the analyzed of the age status of fishermen involved in mussel fishing at Kanyakumari district. The study analyzed on their Socioeconomic, marital status, age, monthly income, educational status, family status and housing facility level were selected for the purpose of study. The data were collected from 1170 respondents through personal interview with the help of pre-tested survey scheduled

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and the data were analyzed the excel XP 2007 software. Based on this result shows that the literacy level and awareness about education was very low around the fisherman. So, it may be suggested that more attention should be given to enhance the literacy level of the coastal population.

Materials and Method

The present study attemptsto find out the socio-economic conditions of women fishermen community and to analyze the family issues of fisher folk women. The study wasbased on descriptive research studies in nature. The present study was confined only to fishermen community in Puducherry region, which included rural villages. The primary data were collected through the interview schedule from the following the six fishing villagesof , that is are Chinnaveerampattinam, Veerampattinam, Vambakeerapalayam, Kurusukuppam, Vaithikuppam and Solinagar. The total household populations of six villages are 5,376. From the researcher has carried out each village of selected 10 fisher folk women were chosen respondents by the way ofused the purposive sampling method and the data was collected from both primary and secondary sources. Hence, the total sample size was sixty.

Results and Discussion

Table: 01 Socio-Economic Profile of Respondents N=60 Number of Socio-economic profile Percentage respondents Age 25 – 30 08 13.00 30 – 35 16 47.00 35 – 40 24 40.00 Above 40 12 20.00 Religion Hindu 48 80.00 Christian 12 20.00 Educational Literate 16 27.00 Status Illiterate 44 73.00 Community OBC - 00 MBC - 00 EBC 60 100.00 Type of Nuclear family 47 78.00 family Joint family 13 22.00 Family size 2-4 34 57.00 5-7 17 28.00

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8 and above 9 15.00 Type of Fish selling 29 48.00 work Fish cutting 23 38.00 Dry fish selling 8 13.00 Monthly 1000-3000 28 47.00 Income 3001-5000 24 40.00 5001-7000 08 13.00 Work 0-5 years 7 12.00 experience 6-10 years 23 38.00 11-15 years 25 42.00 More than 15 years 5 8.00 Source: Primary data

The above table shows that the percentage of the respondents by their socio-economic profile such as age, religion, educational status, community, type of family, family size, type of work, monthly income and work experience are shown in the above table. Regarding fish folk women age 47.00% of the respondents are in the age group of 35-40 years, 40.00% of the respondents are in the age group of 30-35 years followed by 20.00% of the respondents belong in the age group of above 40 years and remaining 13.00% of the respondents in the age group of 25-30 years. With respect to the religion (80.00%) of the respondents are Hindus and whereas less than half of the respondents (20.00%) of the respondents are from Christian Religion. The educational status of the respondents is considerably less; more than three-fourth of the respondents (73.00%) are illiterate and only 27.00% of the respondents are literate. The opportunity and access to the education during three decades before were very bleak. And also, there were some personal causes also caused illiteracy among fishermen. All the fishermen are coming under EBC community that is “Extreme Backward Class” previously EBC was known as MBC. From 2011 onwards it was renamed as EBC due to protect by Puducherry people. The data reveals that majority of the respondents (76.00%) are from nuclear family and remaining 24.00% of the respondents are belonging to the joint families. Looking at the family size, more than half of the respondents (57.00%) family sizes are 2- 4 members, 28.00% of the respondents are medium size families and remaining 15.00% of the respondents are large size of the families. With regarded to work is, Majority of the respondents (48.00%) are fish sellers, 38.00% of them doing fish cutting and remaining 13.00% of the respondents are working as dry fish seller. Regarding monthly income of the respondents, (47.00%) having the monthly income between Rs. 1000-3000, (40.00%) of the respondents have got the monthly income of Rs. 3001-5000 and

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remaining (13.00%) of the respondents having the monthly income of Rs. 5001-7000. Regarding the work experience of the respondents there are (42.00%) of the respondents are 11-15 years have work experience in their field, (38.00%) of the respondents 6-10 years are experienced workers, (12.00%) of the respondents more than 15 years are experienced and (8.00%) of the respondents 0-5 years have work experience in their field.

Table: 22 Distribution of the Respondents by sharing in household chores by spouses and in-laws

Sharingin household Number of Sl. No chores by spouses and in- Percentage Respondents laws 1 Regularly 38 63.3 2 Occasionally 12 20.00 3 Rarely 10 16.6 Total 60 100.00 Source: Primary Data

The result revealed that the household chores shared by their spouses. Majority of the respondents (63%) are opined that the tasks were shared by spousessharing household chores, 20% of the respondents are mentioned as occasionally and remaining 16% of the respondents are replied rarely. An aspect of the support network of working women has beenextended by their parents as well as in-laws, in the management of everyday household tasks or the division of labour within the household chores.

Table: 3 Distribution of the Respondents by quality time spent with wards Qualitytime spent with Number of Sl. No Percentage wards Respondents 1 1-3 hours 40 67.00 2 3-4 hours 15 25.00 3 Above 5 hours 5 17.00 Total 60 100.00 Source: Primary Data

When the women were engaged in profit works, they may be hardly spare time to look after their wards. Theymore time spending with their wards was immaterial. The socialization of wards requires quality time. The study found that the majority of the respondents (67%) are

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quality spent with wards, 25% of the respondents are quality time spent with wards and remaining 17% of the respondents are quality spent with their wards.

Table: 4 Distribution of the Respondents by consumption of alcohol by their spouses

Consumptionof alcohol Number of Sl. No Percentage by their spouses Respondents 1 Regularly 42 70.00 2 Occasionally 10 17.00 3 Never 8 13.00 Total 60 100.00 Source: Primary Data

Alcohol is one of the most common forms of recreational use. Especially among fisher folk the study has found that (70%) of the respondents’spouses are using alcohol regularly to get relax while working in the fields of fishing. The other reason for the using lack of awareness, peer groups, etc. The result also revealed that 17% of the respondents mentioned about the spouses are using alcohol only in occasionally and remaining 13% of the respondents are says that their spouses aredo not using alcohol ever.

Table: 4 Distribution of the Respondents by spending time for Children academic activities N=60 Spendingtime for Number of Sl. No Percentage academic activities Respondents 1 Children Education 44 73.00 2 Parent meeting in school 52 87.00 3 Take the tuition 33 55.00 4 Extra circular activities 28 47.00 Source: Primary Data

The above table identify that the respondents were spending time for children academic activities the sizeable preparation (87%) of the respondents are attending parentsmeeting inschool, (73%) of the respondents are engaged in children education, (55%) of the respondents are takingthe tuition and remaining (47%) of the respondents are spending time for extra circular activities.

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Table: 5 Distribution of the Respondents in decision making Number of Sl. No Decision-making Percentage Respondents 1 Regularly 42 70.00 2 Occasionally 13 22.00 3 Rarely 5 8.00 Total 60 100.00 Source: Primary Data

The above table shows that the majority of the respondents (70%) are involved in major decision making in their regular activities. About 22% of the respondents are involved their decision making wereoccasionally and remaining 8% of the respondents are involving the decision making was rarely. Gender wise distribution also shows that males are predominant position to compare to femaleand take decision making authority.

Table: 6 Distribution of the Respondents by leisure activities N=60

Sl. No Leisureactivities Number of Respondents Percentage 1 Watching TV 60 100.00 2 Traditional Games 22 37.00 3 Helping to husband 12 20.00 Chit chatting 33 55.00 5 Sleeping and simply sitting 38 63.00 Source: Primary Data

The above table identified that (100%) of the respondents are spending leisure activities to watchTelevision programs, especiallywatching Serials, news channels,(63%) of the respondents are spend their leisure time to sleep or simply sitting with group of people to speak something or anything. Majorityof the respondents (55%) are spent their leisure activities by chitchatting, 37% of the respondents are spent their leisure activities with playing traditional game (Baramabadam and etc.,) and remaining 20% of the respondents are helping to husbandafter the fishing and rearrangement of net making.

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Table: 7 Distribution of the Respondents by problems of dual role N=60

Number of Sl. No Problems of dual role Percentage Respondents 1 Difficult in balancing 39 65.00 2 Family work 53 88.00 3 Work overload 60 100.00 4 Stress 55 92.00 Source: Primary Data

The table shows that all the (100.00%) of the respondents are mentioned regarding facing over work load problems. About (92%) of the respondents are informed so many stressesduring dual role activities, (88%) of the respondents are family work at homeand remaining (65%) of the respondents are difficult to balancing their activities.

Conclusion

The study sample mostly comprised of women in the mid-age range and the majority of the respondents had a medium level of information-seeking behavior. Women occasionally contacted the Fisherwomen Cooperatives for any interaction or assistance. The majority of the women received cooperation from their husbands, had a medium level of innovativeness, scientific orientation, and economic motivation. The study found that the socio-economic profile of the respondents was more or less the same. The fishermen folks are illiterate to handle certain processes in a systematic manner and to struggle for the privileges. Amongst lots of issues and problems of the fisher folk women to engaged in business enterprise into the sea and harvest more quantity and quality of fish to provide or sale to consumers at cheapest prices because of bargaining and maintaining the regular customer.

Reference

 BijayalakshmiDevinogmaithem,&Ajit Kumar Ngangbam (2014) “Socio- economic conditions and cultural profile of the fishers in India- a review” IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science (IOSR-JAVS) e-ISSN: 2319-2380, p-ISSN: 2319-2372. Volume 7, Issue 9 Ver. I (Sep. 2014), PP 42-48  Dalin Marry, M. et.al (2015) “Socio-economic status of fisher folks engaged in mussel fishery at Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu, India”Marine Science

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Research & Development an open access journal ISSN: 2155-9910. Volume 5. Issues 3  Joseph Durai, A. &Dhanalakshmi. J. (2015) Role of Women in Fishery Sector in Tamil Nadu. International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)Volume 4, Issue 10, October 2015ISSN 2319 -4847  Karuppusamy, R. &K. Karthikeyan (2017)A Study on Socio-Economic and Cultural Profile of Fishermen in Puducherry Region, India.International Journal of Advanced Research (IJAR) ISSN: 2320-5407, PP 1752-1761  https://yanam.gov.in/handicraft/  http://icities4greengrowth.in/city/puducherry-india

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