Impact of Fisheries Co-Operative Societies on the Livelihood Activities of Marine Fisherfolk-A Study with Special Reference to Port Fishing Village in Kollam District, Kerala
- June 4, 2018
- Posted by: RSIS
- Categories: Commerce, Economics, Social Science
International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume V, Issue V, May 2018 | ISSN 2321–2705
Neethu M Mathews
Lecturer (Economics), Department of Economics, FMN College (Autonomous), Kollam, Kerala, India
Abstract: – This paper discusses about the condition of fisher folk on the basis of the programmes and schemes introduced by the fisheries co-operative societies. Fisheries co-operative societies (Matsyafed) play an important role in changing the standard of living of the fishermen through their different development activities, welfare activities, employment generation activities, commercial activities, women empowerment programmes, motivational programmes and extension and mass communication programmes. The Fisherfolk are contributing largely to the sectors of the state economy. But the fishermen, at the same time are not coming up to the main stream. Even though the Government is providing them with aid and assistance they could not even maintain a fair standard of living. So in order to analyze the programme and policies with respect to the fisherfolk condition in the port fishing village the study has been conducted. Both the primary and secondary data are used for receiving the information. It is evident that matsyafed is implementing schemes for the upliftment of the marginalized community.
Key Words: Matsyafed, Fisherfolk, Fisheries Co-operative Societies, Port fishing village
I. INTRODUCTION
Matsyafed is an Apex Federation of 666 primary level Fishermen Development Welfare Co-operative Societies of which 341 members are in marine sector, 192 numbers are in inland water and 133 women co-operative societies. The administrations and management of Matsyafed is vested with the Administrator. The Chief Executive is the Managing Director. Matsyafed has a District Office in each of the nine maritime districts and one in the Inland district of Kottayam, headed by a District Manager for administrative convenience. The District Managers with a team of supporting staff co-ordinate and supervise all the activities in the district.of the 653 primary societies 334 are in the marine sector, 186 in the Inland sector and 133 women co-operatives. The total membership in these societies is more than three lakhs. The primary societies are clubbed into 60 clusters for administrative convenience based on geographical area.