Women fishworkers in India, as in other parts of the world, play critical roles within the fisheries and fishing communities, roles that are often not recognized or supported. Women are particularly active in postharvest fisheries; in marine fishing communities in India, for example, women comprise about 75 per cent of those engaged in fish marketing. They contribute in significant ways to the food security needs of a diverse range of consumers.What are the problems women fish vendors face on a regular basis? How have women organized themselves to deal with these problems? What are some of the initiatives, governmental and non-governmental, that have been taken to support women fishworkers? What are the various policy spaces available that women can use to seek greater recognition of their work and their livelihoods within the fisheries?
These are some of the issues that this booklet attempts to explore. Section One provides information on fish vending and vendors, the problems faced by women fish vendors, and some of the organizational initiatives they have taken to protect their livelihoods. Section Two is divided into three parts. The first compiles post-harvest, fisheries-specific schemes and initiatives undertaken by Central and State Fisheries Departments, as well as by central research institutions and intergovernmental organizations. The second part examines the provisions of the National Policy on Urban Street Vendors and its implications for fish vendors. The third part analyzes the Unorganized Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008, from the perspective of fish vendors.