Three Fishing Villages In Tamil Nadu - A Socio-Economic Study With Special Reference To The Role and Status of  Women - BOBP/WP/14

E.  Drewes

Three Fishing Villages In Tamil Nadu - A Socio-Economic Study With Special Reference To The Role and Status of Women - BOBP/WP/14

Autores

Descripción

This paper results from a socio-economic study conducted during March-May 1981 in three fishing villages south of Madras - Perianeelankarai, Chemmencheri and Pattipulam. The study examined the socio-economic conditions of marine fisherwomen, their involvement inproductive activities and the scope for new in come-generating activities. The study also sought to improve knowledge and understanding of the organisation and economics of traditional fishing communities. It is hoped that the paper will be found useful by planners, sociologists and economists, and by those concerned with small-scale fisheries development in general and women’s role in fisheries in particular. It is vital that data obtained from such a study should be sufficiently comprehensive and accurate. The strategy adopted for data collection was to first approach headmen of the villages through local contacts familiar with the villages, and secure general information about the villages from the headmen. Questionn aires for individual interviews with village women were prepared on the basis of this information. Ten selected women investigators were briefed thoroughly on interview methods, both in the office and in the field; they then conducted individual interviews with 300 women from the three villages over a period of 14 days in March 1981. This was followed by group interviews and supplementary interviews with influential people such as teachers. All this data was tabulated with the help of two of the investigators who were qualified statisticians.