SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS AND SOCIAL PARTICIPATION OF FISHERS OF BARGI RESERVOIR IN MADHYA PRADESH

SOCIO-ECONOMIC OF BARGI RESERVOIR

Abstract

The present study was conducted in the six fishing villages of Jabalpur and Mandla district of the Bargi reservoir to assess fishers’ socio-economic status. Focus group discussions and interviews of 180 fishers’ were used to elicit the required information. Further, the data were analyzed through percentage analysis to draw meaningful interpretations. The results showed that the mean age of fishers was 45 years. The gender ratio indicates a strong men bias with 95%, whereas 5% of women. About 90% of fishers’ belong to the Other Backward Class, and only 10% Scheduled Tribes. The majority (47.7%) of fishers’ were illiterate. The fishers’ average monthly income from fishing was 3405 and the total monthly household income was 5675. 16.1% of fishers’ have debt, of which 11.6% of fishers’ have taken loans for their family purposes, 3.8% for fishing purposes, and 1.1% for personal purposes. The average annual debt of fishers’ was ¹ 10538.89. Around 56.11% of the fishers’ save monthly. The average monthly savings of fishers’ was only ¹ 295.08. Fishers’ spend maximum on food (33.64%) with an average monthly expenditure of 1046.21. All the fishers’ were a member of Fisheries Cooperative Societies. Around 76.1% of fishers’ revealed social benefits from membership in Fisheries Cooperative Societies. However, 81.1% of fishers’ were not satisfied with their membership in Fisheries Cooperative Societies, and only 3.8% of fishers’ have a leadership position. About 32% of fishers’ participate weekly in Fisheries Cooperative Societies, 31.5% have fortnightly participation, while 19% participate daily. To conclude, the fishers have a low average income per month and high average annual debt. However, they had high social participation. Therefore, possibilities of joint-ventures for alternative livelihood options may be explored.