Author: Avijit Lahiri
DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.70798/Bijmrd/04040015
Abstract: Women have been recognized as indispensable contributors to small-scale fisheries in rural India, yet their roles have often remained under-documented and undervalued. The present study had been conducted to assess the gender-based division of labour, economic contribution, livelihood dependence, and challenges faced by women engaged in small-scale fisheries. Primary data had been collected from 80 respondents across selected rural fishing communities, supported by secondary literature for contextual analysis. The findings had revealed that women had been actively involved in post-harvest activities, including fish processing, marketing, and value addition, while their participation in capture fisheries had remained limited due to socio-cultural constraints. Despite lower visibility, women had contributed significantly to household income, accounting for a substantial share of fisheries-related earnings. However, gender disparities had been evident in access to resources, decision-making power, and institutional support. Key constraints had included limited access to credit, inadequate infrastructure, and social marginalization. The study had emphasized the need for gender-inclusive fisheries policies, capacity building initiatives, and improved market access to enhance women’s economic empowerment and sustainability of small-scale fisheries.
Keywords: Women in Fisheries, Gender Roles, Livelihood, Small-Scale Fisheries, Rural India, Economic Contribution.
Page No: 106-110