Transforming Activity Groups to Business Units - Emerging Fisherwomen Managers in Kerala, India

The fisheries sector in Kerala, on account of its management initiatives on fisheries sustainability and fisher welfare, posses a unique example for the other coastal states. The state has pioneered many novel management measures and fisher welfare programmes which led to commendable socio-economic standards comparable even with the Western world.   Post Tsunami during 2004 in Kerala wreathed havoc in terms of inventory and human losses which led to the initiation of Society for Assistance to fisherwomen (SAF) under the umbrella of Department of Fisheries, Government of Kerala. Over the years SAF planned and implemented many flagship programmes among which Theeramythri was instrumental in empowering women. Currently, there are more than   1200 units providing meaningful employment to more than 5000 women. The fisher empowerment improved considerably post joining SAF from 0.41to 0.64. The empowerment determinants included economical (30.7%), legal (22.81%), political (20.18%) social (14.91%) and psychological (11.4%). SAF envisioned transforming these groups from a mere activity group into viable business units with more financial outlays, repayments, commitment at self-sufficiency, getting more collateral financial support. In the mission toward converting activity groups into business, SAF provided additional fund on a short term basis which included revolving fund, technology fund and shift to business. The study assessed the impact of these funds in augmenting the performance of over 600 activity groups in Kerala. The results showed that both sale turnover and income increased consequent to receipt of additional fund. The repayment rates were also high at 80 percent showing promising future.