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Unlocking entrepreneurship in fisherwomen in Bangladesh
During the mid-1980s BOBP worked with the fisher community in the
Juldia-Shamipur village of Chittagong District, Bangladesh on several
issues aiming to uplift the community. A socioeconomic survey in 1985
revealed that indebtedness was a major issue, with 62 per cent of the
fishing families in debt and 35 per cent having no savings. About 94 per
cent of children were suffering from malnutrition, with 23 per cent facing
severe (third degree) malnutrition.
For women, economic empowerment meant ‘more scope for fish
marketing’. The women also believed that although they worked as
hard as men, they were denied equal status, both in the family and in
the community.
The project tried the participatory approach to improve their living
standard. First, the women were helped to organize themselves
into small groups, and second, in consultation with them a menu of
possible livelihood activities was identified. Since fishing activities were
seasonal and not remunerative enough to meet their basic needs, it was
envisaged that diversifying the economic activities could at least reduce
seasonal risks and hopefully more income would be generated. Different
activities, such as fish marketing (traditional), animal husbandry and
poultry were introduced. In addition, education-cum-action programmes
on health, sanitation and nutrition were also launched. Apart from the
Government and BOBP, agencies such as the Grameen Bank and local
and national NGOs participated. Dedicated community workers were
engaged for hand-holding and interest-free loans were provided with no
fixed payment schedule for new activities. Within 8-12 months most of
the women’s groups paid back over 50 per cent of the loans. Most of the
groups also reported saving 10 per cent or more.
Post-project, local NGOs carried the model forward in other areas.
Twenty years later, BOBP-IGO engaged with another fisher community in
Chakoria village – about 100 kilometres south of Chittagong under the
Global Project on Safety at Sea. The community was still suffering from
many structural problems – such as low catch, high risks of accident
while fishing and increasing population. However, the village was more
vibrant in terms of economics as most families were engaged in additional
livelihood activities such as sewing, animal husbandry and/or poultry. The
most significant change was in the attitude of women as they were playing
a leading role in many areas, including helping their menfolk with cyclone
warnings and so on. Something seems to have changed within 20 years
– apart from better economic engagement, women have started playing
an important role in decision-making and leadership.
Tailoring is an alternative source of livelihood for fisherwomen in
Chittagong, Bangladesh
Image: S Jayaraj
Developing a market for fisherwomen in Besant Nagar
The Fish Marketing Society of Besant Nagar Fisherwomen in Chennai
has just completed its twenty-fifth year of establishment. Twenty five
years back these women came from two small fishing villages located
in close proximity within the city limits of Chennai. Competing with each
other and facing problems in marketing their fish, life for these women
was full of hardships. They neither had a designated place nor adequate
supply to earn enough.
BOBP met this group in the late 1980s and the first challenge was
to unite them. This was done through dedicated training programmes
mixed problem solving exercises, simulation and games designed to
value cooperation and leadership. The training brought confidence and
the fisherwomen negotiated with the City Corporation for a designated
marketplace to conduct business. While BOBP developed the market
design, the City Corporation in consultation with the fisherwomen
constructed the market. Meanwhile, the women set up a formal society
and started collecting funds.
By July 1990 the market was completed and the fisherwomen entered
into a lease agreement with the corporation and began operating from
the market. How did it make an impact? In their own words, earlier they
used to procure small amounts of fish from the landing sites, mostly
from their family boats. Now they buy fish from open auction. Their
price realization has also increased many fold. Selling fish from their
own market also raised their self-esteem and decision-making power.
The lessons learned were never forgotten. Subsequently, the market
complex underwent many ups and downs but the women have struggled
hard to maintain it. BOBP (and later BOBP-IGO) have continued to assist
these fisherwomen in developing their enterprise and providing need-
based assistance from time to time.
A fisherwoman vending fish through her retail shop in Chennai, India
Image: S Jayaraj
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