MAROL DRY FISH MARKET OF MUMBAI: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

The method of drying is the world's oldest known preservation method practiced to increase the storage life of food materials. Drying of fish is very common in Maharashtra. Mostly women from fishing community i.e., Kolis are involved in its marketing. A study was done with the objectives to document the profile of dry fish markets and the constraints faced by women involved in dry fish marketing. The market selected for the study was Maro! dry fish market situated in Maro!, Mumbai. It was found that this market is mainly a women oriented wholesale market. Fisherwomen from Koli community of Maharashtra have united themselves and formed a society known as Maro! Machli Vikreta Koli Mahila Santha (MMVKMS) with the aim to protect this very old dry fish market from clutches of builders. The study has revealed that irrespective of the fact that fish drying has been a traditional occupation for women of fishing communities, women are increasingly marginalized from their livelihoods due to factors such as poor maintenance and deteriorating condition of markets, absence of policy measures for dry fish sellers and constant threat of land grabbing by builders. In fact, it is ironic that even when presence of women in fish marketing is highly visible in Mumbai, women-seller-specific schemes are few. MBMVKMS is an example ofKoli women's unity and needs to be strengthened.