Job Diversifaction Among Traditional Fisherfolk: a Micro Analysis of Trivandrum District
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JOB DIVERSIFACTION AMONG TRADITIONAL FISHERFOLK: A MICRO ANALYSIS OF TRIVANDRUM DISTRICT A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK. NAME: SREEJA P.S EXAM CODE: 91506407 CANDIDATE CODE: 12115020 Loyola College of Social Sciences Sreekariyam P.O, Thiruvananthapuram- 695017 2012 - 2014 CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL This is certify that the work embodied in this dissertation entitled Job Diversification among Traditional Fisherfolk: A micro analysis of Trivandrum District has been carried out by Ms. Sreeja P.S of Fourth semester MSW student in Masters in Social Work under my supervision and guidance that is here by approved for submission. Thiruvananthapuram 25/7/2014 Dr. Charles L Staff Guide Department of Social Work Loyola College of Social Sciences Trivandrum Recommended for forwarding to the University of Kerala Dr. Sonny Jose Head of the Department of Social Work Loyola College of Social Sciences Recommended for forwarding to the University of Kerala Dr .K.A Joseph Principal Loyola College of Social Science Thiruvananthapuram 25/7/2014 DECLARATION I Sreeja P.S final semester MSW student, department of social work, Loyola College of Social Sciences do hereby declare that this dissertation entitled “Job Diversification among traditional Fisherfolk:A micro analysis of Trivandrum district” is a bonafide work done by me and no part of this dissertation has been presented before any, degree, diploma, associateship, fellowship or other similar title or recognition of any university to the best of my knowledge and belief. Thiruvananthapuram Sreeja P.S 4th semester MSW student Department of Social Work Loyola College of Social Sciences Thiruvananthapuram ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I owe my deep gratitude first to God,the source of my inspiration and existence.The success of the study owes much to certain personalities who offered whole hearted cooperation and help.I take this opportunity to express my sincere and hearty thanks to each and every one of them.I would like to thank Dr. K.A Joseph,Principal of Loyola College of Social Sciences,Dr.Sonny Jose Head of the Department of Social work for providing a congenial environment to do my research. My special thanks to Dr. Charles Leon, my research guide,for his expert guidance ,suggestions,encouragement and support. I express my sincere thanks to Fr.Saji for his timely guidance and support. I would like to thank the rest of all the Faculties for their encouragement, insightful comments and hard questions especially Dr. Prakash Pillai. My sincere thanks also go to Mr. Sumesh, our beloved lab technician for offering technical support. Sincere thanks to Fr.Mathias for giving me this opportunity to conduct my research in collaboration with Trivandrum Social Service Society and for his support and encouragement throughout my research. I am indebted to Dr.Sanjeeva Gosh and Mr.Shyjan David for their guidance, valuable critique for the successful completion of my study. I would like to remember Mr. Jaison and the Animators of TSSS for helping me at the time of data collection. I acknowledge whole-heartedly my friends Elizabeth K.Thomas and Ajith Kumar J for their valuable remarks and suggestions completion of my study. My sincere thanks to people of the coastal villages in Trivandrum for their cooperation with honesty and passion. I express my special thanks to the librarian Mr.Sunil Kumar and Asst. librarian Mr.George of Loyola College of Social Sciences. I thank my family who stood by me through thick and thin and my friends for their support. I am grateful to all who have in one way or the other helped me in accomplishing this work SREEJA P.S CONTENT Sl no. Content Page no 1 Introduction 1-6 2 Literature Review 7-12 3 Research Methodology 15-17 4 Data Analysis and Interpretation 18-34 5 Findings,Reccomendations and 35-38 Conclusion 6 Appendix 39-41 7 Bibliography 42-43 List of tables Table no. Title Page no 4.2.1 Age wise distribution of the respondents 19 4.3.1 Distribution of the respondents based on 20 job 4.3.2 Distribution of the respondents based on 21 mode of fishing 4.3.3 Distribution of the respondents based on 22 the time engage in other activities 4.3.4 Distribution of the respondents based on 22 the reason for moving to jobs other than fishing 4.3.5 Respondents who feels that the 23 advancement in technology has affected fishing 4.3.2 Distribution of the respondents based on 23 their opinion on way technological advancement has affected fishing 4.3.6 Respondents who feel that fishing is a 24 low profile job 4.3.7 Distribution of the respondents based on 25 feeling that diversified fisherfolk improved their quality of life 4.3.8 Respondents feeling that diversifying 25 from fishing helps in faster economic growth 4.4.1 Reasons for unwillingness 27 4.4.2 Distribution based on the place of the 28 migrated person 4.4.3 Distribution based on the reason for 29 migration to other places 4.4.4 Distribution based on the kind of job 29 engaged in by the migrated person 4.4.5 Distribution based on number of years the 30 member have been working under MGNREGA 4.4.6 Respondents who wish to move from 31 coastal area 4.4.7 Reason for interest of moving from 31 coastal area List of diagrams/graphs Chart no. Title Page no 4.2.1 Distribution of respondents based on 20 ownership of land 4.3.1 Respondents engaged in activities other than 21 fishing 4.3.2 Distribution of the respondents based on their 23 opinion on way technological advancement has affected fishing 4.3.3 Respondents who feel that jobs other than 24 fishing is necessary for survival 4.3.4 Respondents attracted by the migrants 26 4.4.1 Respondents who like younger generation to 26 go for fishing 4.4.2 Distribution based on the migration of family 28 members 4.4.3 Distribution based on the engagement in work 30 under MGREGA Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Fishing Community 1.3 Fisherfolk in Kerala 1.4 Modernisation and fisherfolk 1.5 Diversification in coastal and inland fishing communities 1.6 About Trivandrum Social Service Society (TSSS) 1.7 Statement of the problem 1.8 Significance of the study 1.9 Conclusion 1 1.1 Introduction As per the population census 2011,the fisherfolk in kerala is 10.02 lakh covering 7.71 lakh in the coastal area and 2.31 lakh in the inland sector.It is also estimated that about 71600 people are engaged in fishery-allied activities.This fisherfolk of the state contribute about 8 percent of the GSDP from the agriculture sector which gives the significance of the sector to the state economy.(Economic Review,2012) 1.2 Fishing community For centuries, Kerala’s fishing communities shared the ocean’s resources and maintained close social and economic ties despite cultural and religious differences. In recent years however, explains N P Chekkutty, international subsidies, the stringent conditions of global trade, and intense competition from international fishing conglomerates have seen a sharp decline in profits. The resultant impoverishment, anger and discontent have opened the doors to communalism and violence The southwestern coast of India, consisting mainly of Kerala and south Konkan, is one of the richest in the country in terms of biodiversity, abundance of fish stocks, cultural diversity of fishing communities, and historical traditions. With a recorded history of fishing life and trade relations with far-flung countries like ancient Greece, Rome and the Arabs going back almost 2,000 years, life in this coastal belt has been comparatively friction-free and prosperous. There was abundant trade in spices and other valuables through major ports like Panthalayani and Kodungallur -- known as Fandalini and Muziris in Arab and Roman texts - - and the sea has been bountiful. The life of the coastal people was comfortable and peaceful, as they devised their own traditional methods of sorting out differences, methods that have remained in place for centuries. ( Dhanuraj D,2004,Traditional Fishermen Folk In Kerala & Their Livelihood Issues) 1.3 Fisherfolk in Kerala Kerala is one of India’s nine maritime states, and it is also the largest fish-producing state in the country. It contributes more than 30% of India’s total marine fish production and over 36% of marine exports. Kerala enjoys a long and unbroken coastline that extends for 590 km; nine of its 14 districts have the Arabian Sea as their western border. Kerala has an economic zone of 36,000 sq km of sea that is rich in diversity; over 100 varieties of fish are found here. According to a 1976 estimate, the fishery resource potential of the continental shelf of Kerala is around 8 lakh tonnes a year, of which 4 lakh tonnes is considered to be from the inshore sea area of 0-50 m depth. In 1991, the working group on resources, constituted by the Government of India, estimated Kerala’s marine potential at around 5.70 lakh tonnes per annum. The abundance and diversity of fish resources in Kerala’s inshore sea is the result of unique geographical and oceanographic features. These shores lie 20 degrees north of the equator, with relatively warm and stable climatic conditions round the year. Besides, the Arabian Sea estuaries are nourished by 41 rivers originating in the Western Ghats; in fact, a river joins the sea at every 15 km, on an average, providing fresh water and the right mix of salt and nutrients for all forms of marine life to flourish.