International Journal of Gender & Women's Studies

Fisherwomen of the East Coastal India: A Study
Manju Pathania Biswas, Dr. M Rama Mohan Rao

Abstract
This article is a hypothetical study of fisherwomen fromthe Coastal areas of West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Naduto highlight social, economic, political,education and health related issues. Fishing is a major industry in coastal states of India but still the coastal fishworkers have been one of the most vulnerable groups among the poor in India. Fisheries are an important sector of food production, providing dieteticsupplement to the food along with contributing to the agricultural exports and engaging about fourteen million people in different activities. With diverse resources ranging from deep seas to fresh waters, the country has shown constant increments in fish production since independence. Women, who constitute approximately half of India’s population (49%)play vital role in these fisheries. The contributions of the fisherwomen penetrate every aspect of postharvest handling, preservation, processing and marketing of seafood products and provide an integral link between producers and consumers.Increase in competition, decaying resources and complex working conditions make work challenging for the fisherwomen.Among fisherwomen mobility is limited; hence they need some ecofriendly technologies, which could provide additional income to the family. Women entrepreneurs need to be encouraged in the fishing industry.

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