With literacy and mechanisation pushing fishing families in Mangaluru to economic prosperity, the shortfall in the multi-day trawling labour force has been filled up by migrant labourers from Tamil Nadu. A study was done by PS Swathilekshmi, senior scientist, and B Johnson, scientist, Socio-Economic Evaluation and Technology Transfer Division (SEETTD), The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) research centre, Mangaluru, on ‘Migrant Labourers in the Primary Sector of Marine Fisheries: A Case Study in Karnataka’. It shows there are approximately 5,320 multiday trawl labourers (primary sector) in Dakshina Kannada district who have migrated from Tamil Nadu, which is close to 90 per cent of the workforce in this sector. The rest is filled up by labourers from Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. The study was done as part of CMFRI’s development of fishery management for Karnataka and Goa. The study observes that a steady influx of migrant labourers happens from two specific districts of Tamil Nadu – Villupuram and Ramanathapuram. The reasons for migration are uneven rainfall, fragmented land holdings, heavy downpour in coastal areas compared to interior areas, and the occurrence of seasonal rivers which are some of the drawbacks of these districts. Poor wages of agricultural labourers, frequent droughts leading to crop failure and consequently to unemployment, have compelled them to migrate to places outside their native soil, in search of better prospects. The pull factors for migration, as perceived by 98 per cent of migrants, were more employment opportunities and higher wages in the fisheries sector of DK district. During the 45-days mechanised ban in Karnataka – from June 15 to August 3 – they go back to their native districts where they undertake carpentry, masonry and farming. When the ban period runs out in August, they return to work on the boats. But, the study notes that the living conditions of these migrants are deplorable. Almost all the migrants in the primary sector of multiday trawl fisheries, of DK in particular, work on board the fishing vessel, leaving their families in the native districts. They do not have either temporary or permanent shelters, or houses where they work. They work, rest, eat and sleep onboard in the fishing vessels. Only the Tamil migrants who work in the secondary sector (harbour work) have temporary shelters since they bring their families along with them. In such instances, family labour is utilised in the secondary sector. The study notes that migration must be perceived in the context of socio?economic and ecological dynamics and recommends that management of migratory flow should target both the origin and destination of migrants, and be linked to broader policies about poverty reduction. It also says any policy decision needs to consider the trade?offs between both benefits and negative effects, as perceived by members of communities hosting migrant fishermen. The problems encountered by the migrants are numerous and often not effectively addressed by the government and policy makers, the study notes, adding that migrants do not have ration cards or identity cards at the place of work, suffer from lack of hygienic working conditions, insurance facilities in instances of physical injuries endured during work, long working hours, inadequate wage structure and are not eligible for the benefits of welfare programmes of the state fisheries department.
2016 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.