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Fisherwomen's Activities in Bangladesh : A Participatory Approach to Development - BOBP/REP/24

Year of publication 1986

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages p. 40

Author Patchanee Natpracha

Product type Book (stand-alone)

Series number REP24

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) This paper describes and discusses a pilot project to improve the living standards of fisherwomen from two villages near Chittagong, Bangladesh. The project tried out the ‘participatory approach’: groups of fisherwomen led by ‘link workers’ took active part in the project at all stages: planning, identification of activities, implementation. The paper highlights the project methodology, achievements and failures, problems, and lessons for the future. Under the project, several activities to ge nerate income-such as net-making, fish culture, poultry and goat rearing-were organized. Activities to improve the nutritional status of fisherfolk were taken up. Loans were distributed to project members for investment in income-generating activities. A savings scheme was launched. Carried out from 1981 to 1985, the project was implemented by the small-scale fisheries project of the Bay of Bengal Programme (BOBP) in cooperation with the marine fisheries department of Bangladesh. It was coordi nated by a BOBP sociologist. Two field workers engaged by BOBP and two officials of the marine fisheries department worked with the fisherwomen groups. BOBP’s role in the project was terminated in 1985, and a voluntary agency, Nijera Kori, took over this role.

Language English

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    This document is the report of a BOBP-assisted pilot project on improving the socio-economic conditions of women from fishing communities of Tamil Nadu. The strategy adopted was group action among fisherwomen led by trained “link workers”. They were to serve as links between the villages and the government, and try to ensure that all available welfare and subsidy schemes for fisherwomen, government and private, were extended to their villages. A proposal for statewide expansion of the link w orker scheme, formulated at government request, is part of the paper. Also included as an Appendix is a fairly detailed case-study of the efforts undertaken by the link workers, the problems encountered and the results obtained in a single village - Chemmencheri. The activities reported in the paper were carried out between 1981 and 1984. On behalf of BOBP, a socioeconomist was responsible for project activities. Two Deputy Directors of Fisheries from the Government of Tamil Nadu, MS Freda Cha ndrasekaran and Ms. Mekala Devadoss, were the main government counterparts. Two social workers engaged by BOBP, MS N. Valli and Ms. R. Veronica, two government extension officers, Ms. D. Bee and Ms. R. Meenakshi, and 21 link workers from the fishing villages, supervised field work. Excellent cooperation was extended by the Natesan Cooperative Training College, Madras, and by its Principal, ‘Mr Rajaram, in conducting a course for fisherwomen on management of cooperatives.
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    This report of the Consultation-cum-Workshop on the Development of Activities for the Improvement of Coastal Fishing Families is a contribution to the search for a proper assessment of the conditions of fisherfolk, particularly the women, and for ways and means of how this target group could be helped within the framework of the overall development work. There were 23 participants at the workshop -official representatives of four countries plus BOBP staff and resource persons, most of whom had had field experience. The approach of the workshop was “participatory”, and emphasized discussion and field trips rather than lectures. It was the participants who provided most of the information, identified the problems to be discussed, drew up guidelines for project, and suggested follow-up ideas for BOBP membercountries.
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    Attempts to Stimulate Development Activities in Fishing Communities of Adirampattinam, India - BOBP/REP/25 1986
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    This paper discusses the rationale, modus operandi, conduct and outcome of a pilot project to help the development of coastal fishing communities near Adirampattinam, Tamil Nadu, India. Two earlier papers on the project published by the BOBP are BOBP/WP/19 : “Coastal village development in four fishing communities of Adirampattinam, Tamil Nadu, India” and BOBP/WP/38: “Credit for fisherfolk: the experience in Adirampattinam, Tamil Nadu, India”. The project was carried out between 1980 and 1982 by the small-scale fisheries project of the Bay of Bengal Programme (BOBP) in cooperation with the fisheries department, Tamil Nadu, particularly its Fisherwomen’s Extension Service; and with the assistance of voluntary agencies such as the Working Women’s Forum. In the main, the project tried to improve the access of fishermen and fisherwomen to bank loans and Government credit schemes; and organized leadership training courses to promote leadership and group action. Some follow-up activities - relating, for example, to non-formal adult education and better water supply - were initiated after,the latter. The idea was to stimulate self-help and self reliance in Adirampattinam fishing communities, without any substantial external inputs.
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