CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government will start the decennial census on the fishermen community in March. It will also undertake a first of its kind study on the socio-economic status of marine fisherfolk in the state. The census will go on for six months. Alongside, a study will be carried out to identify the marine fishing villages, population dependent on marine fisheries resources and their occupational structure.
The population of the fishermen community as per the 2010 census was 7.87 lakh and the conventional estimate is that it would have grown to 10.25 lakh by now. "The fisheries department has begun the administrative process to launch the census. The six-month long statistical exercise will cover details like age, literacy, occupation, fishing craft (mechanised fishing boat/non-motorised/motorised vessels) and fishing gears. The census will help the government evolve schemes benefitting the community," fisheries director G S Sameeran told TOI.
The state ranks fourth in total marine fish production in the country. About 6.75 lakh tonnes of fish was caught in the last fiscal and it generated foreign exchange revenue of 5,500 crore. The state offers financial aid of 5,000 to each family during the fishing ban period.
The government has rolled out its plan to identify a consultant for doing a study on the socio-economic status of fishermen. The objective is to identify the latest status, impact of various government schemes and key areas of interventions for improvement of their living standards.
The study will focus on the schemes implemented in the last 15 years and measure the improvement achieved through the schemes. Infrastructure facilities developed over the past ten years all along Tamil Nadu coast, handling of catch, marketing of fish and the benefits enjoyed by the fishermen through these infrastructure facilities will be studied. "The study will help identify areas that require more attention to improve their livelihood," fisheries minister D Jayakumar said. Besides collection of demographic data, the study will look into ownership and possession of fishing assets and implements, nature of fishing, disposal of catch, income and indebtedness.
With 1076-km long coastline covering 13 costal districts, Tamil Nadu has the second longest coastline in the country.
Tamil Nadu Mechanised Boat Fishermen Welfare Association state general secretary N J Bose said the governments at the state and Centre should intervene in upgrading the livelihood of fishermen which had been hit badly over the years.
"If depleting marine resources is one reason, we are not allowed to even enter our traditional fishing waters with Sri Lankan Navy seizing our boats and arresting our fishermen. There are more than 200 boats in Lanka and 14 fishermen languishing in jails," Bose said.
Rameswaram fishermen held protests on Monday demanding 5 lakh compensation for damaged boats.
The common refrain is that the subsidy extended for deep sea fishing under the Centre's Blue Revolution scheme is inadequate.
The population of the fishermen community as per the 2010 census was 7.87 lakh and the conventional estimate is that it would have grown to 10.25 lakh by now. "The fisheries department has begun the administrative process to launch the census. The six-month long statistical exercise will cover details like age, literacy, occupation, fishing craft (mechanised fishing boat/non-motorised/motorised vessels) and fishing gears. The census will help the government evolve schemes benefitting the community," fisheries director G S Sameeran told TOI.
The state ranks fourth in total marine fish production in the country. About 6.75 lakh tonnes of fish was caught in the last fiscal and it generated foreign exchange revenue of 5,500 crore. The state offers financial aid of 5,000 to each family during the fishing ban period.
The government has rolled out its plan to identify a consultant for doing a study on the socio-economic status of fishermen. The objective is to identify the latest status, impact of various government schemes and key areas of interventions for improvement of their living standards.
The study will focus on the schemes implemented in the last 15 years and measure the improvement achieved through the schemes. Infrastructure facilities developed over the past ten years all along Tamil Nadu coast, handling of catch, marketing of fish and the benefits enjoyed by the fishermen through these infrastructure facilities will be studied. "The study will help identify areas that require more attention to improve their livelihood," fisheries minister D Jayakumar said. Besides collection of demographic data, the study will look into ownership and possession of fishing assets and implements, nature of fishing, disposal of catch, income and indebtedness.
With 1076-km long coastline covering 13 costal districts, Tamil Nadu has the second longest coastline in the country.
Tamil Nadu Mechanised Boat Fishermen Welfare Association state general secretary N J Bose said the governments at the state and Centre should intervene in upgrading the livelihood of fishermen which had been hit badly over the years.
"If depleting marine resources is one reason, we are not allowed to even enter our traditional fishing waters with Sri Lankan Navy seizing our boats and arresting our fishermen. There are more than 200 boats in Lanka and 14 fishermen languishing in jails," Bose said.
Rameswaram fishermen held protests on Monday demanding 5 lakh compensation for damaged boats.
The common refrain is that the subsidy extended for deep sea fishing under the Centre's Blue Revolution scheme is inadequate.
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