The paradigm of gender mainstreaming and impact of SHGs in Indian fisheries sector: an ephemeral depiction

A study was made on the impact of 1000 selected ‘Self Help Groups’ (SHGs) in gender mainstreaming in marine fisheries sector. Their level of performance and extent of empowerment were assessed through appropriate indices of measurement based on data from SHGs of 30 different fishery based micro enterprises from 5 maritime states of India such as Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The gender analysis and economic feasibility analysis based on personal interview and focus group interaction meetings with members of SHGs were undertaken. The male and female counterparts of the families of respondents were separately interviewed to assess the gender mainstreaming impact in terms of equity and equality to access and control over the resources, participation profile, decision making, gender need analysis etc. Analysis of data was essentially done with descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency, percentages, etc. As practical extension part, organized 250 fisherfolk interaction meetings and imparted 100 Entrepreneurial Capacity Building (ECB) Training programmes for the SHGs on the identified micro enterprises by HRD intervention programmes. The major micro enterprises of the SHGs studied were cage culture, bivalve farming, fish aggregating devices, Chinese dip net, clam processing, fish fertilizer, fish amino acid, fish drying, seaweed culture, aqua tourism, seafood kitchen, value addition, fish vending, fish marketing, ornamental fish, ready to eat and cook items, fish feed, aquaponics etc. Economic Feasibility analysis was done for the fishery based micro enterprises accomplished by SHGs and developed Business Plans of the microenterprises representing the indicative economics projecting the break even and payback period of micro-enterprises. Documented 100 success cases on ECB of SHGs with special reference to gender perspective. Brought out 25 video documentaries as Gender Mainstreaming series on Impact of SHGs in Marine Fisheries Sector as success case studies elucidated which can be used as case model for promoting group action and as a practical manual for mobilizing SHGs in any key areas on a sustainable basis