1DISHA

Of Rights and Wrongs –Boats, Nets and an Imperilled Way of Life

RIGHTS’ STUDY – A DISHA PRESENTATION

Of Rights and Wrongs –Boats, Nets and an Imperilled Way of Life

RIGHTS’ STUDY – A DISHA PRESENTATION

2DISHA

Rights, responsibilities and Community Rights, responsibilities and Community Regime – Background to the StudyRegime – Background to the Study

Demographically, the coastal fishing community in India runs into millions. In West Bengal the members of this community add up to more than a couple of hundred thousand. Yet, this demographically significant community is politically and economically disprivileged.

Demographically, the coastal fishing community in India runs into millions. In West Bengal the members of this community add up to more than a couple of hundred thousand. Yet, this demographically significant community is politically and economically disprivileged.

3DISHA

Background to the StudyBackground to the Study

Nevertheless the communities of traditional coastal fishers have asserted their claims and demands originating in their very mode of being. Demands that have helped not only in transforming them from a community in itself to a community for itself, but also in throwing up strategic issues for conserving the coast and coastal waters.

Nevertheless the communities of traditional coastal fishers have asserted their claims and demands originating in their very mode of being. Demands that have helped not only in transforming them from a community in itself to a community for itself, but also in throwing up strategic issues for conserving the coast and coastal waters.

4DISHA

Background to the StudyBackground to the Study

Thus the need of a study on the rights issues of this community has been a long felt need. We in DISHA, primarily working for protection of coastal ecology and resources, learned many lessons from the livelihood activities of coastal fishers. It has been a long cherished wish to put together the lessons. The present study supported by ICSF provides us with one avenue to that end.

Thus the need of a study on the rights issues of this community has been a long felt need. We in DISHA, primarily working for protection of coastal ecology and resources, learned many lessons from the livelihood activities of coastal fishers. It has been a long cherished wish to put together the lessons. The present study supported by ICSF provides us with one avenue to that end.

5DISHA

What we sought to learnWhat we sought to learn

1. Who are the coastal fishers of West Bengal and what is the nature of their community practices, organisation, relationship with government, legislations that have bearing on their lives and livelihoods, their demands, problems and grievances,.

1. Who are the coastal fishers of West Bengal and what is the nature of their community practices, organisation, relationship with government, legislations that have bearing on their lives and livelihoods, their demands, problems and grievances,.

6DISHA

What we sought to learnWhat we sought to learn

2. How they see themselves, their needs and their claims –

i. Their conception of community

ii. Perception of Claims to:

Fisheries, Coastal Land, Market Access

iii. Their evaluation of social security and benefit schemes

iv. What in their view have been the community’s demands and the actions taken

v. Their conception of the community rights regime and community rights and responsibilities

2. How they see themselves, their needs and their claims –

i. Their conception of community

ii. Perception of Claims to:

Fisheries, Coastal Land, Market Access

iii. Their evaluation of social security and benefit schemes

iv. What in their view have been the community’s demands and the actions taken

v. Their conception of the community rights regime and community rights and responsibilities

7DISHA

Area Covered by the StudyArea Covered by the Study

In order to carry out an investigation to a certain depth one needs to narrow down the area of study. The present study has focussed on two areas on the East Medinipur coast of West Bengal – (1) the landing centres covered by the erstwhile Junput area, presently run by the Junput, Haripur, Baguran Jalpai 1 and Baguran Jalpai 2 Khotis and (2) the Dadanpatrabar Fish Landing centre and the Community Based Organisation that runs that landing centre.

In order to carry out an investigation to a certain depth one needs to narrow down the area of study. The present study has focussed on two areas on the East Medinipur coast of West Bengal – (1) the landing centres covered by the erstwhile Junput area, presently run by the Junput, Haripur, Baguran Jalpai 1 and Baguran Jalpai 2 Khotis and (2) the Dadanpatrabar Fish Landing centre and the Community Based Organisation that runs that landing centre.

8DISHA

Study Methodology Study Methodology

The study has sought to stand on five legs. They are as follows:

Visits to and close interaction with the communities being studied.

Questionnaire based Rights’ Survey.

Interviewing the authority. Examining the Central and State legislations /

rules / orders etc.

Literature of fishers’ struggle.

The study has sought to stand on five legs. They are as follows:

Visits to and close interaction with the communities being studied.

Questionnaire based Rights’ Survey.

Interviewing the authority. Examining the Central and State legislations /

rules / orders etc.

Literature of fishers’ struggle.

9DISHA

Summary of Findings – 1. The KhotiSummary of Findings – 1. The Khoti

The term Khoti is usually translated as ‘fish landing centre’. It is that. But, it is much more. It is a community of fishers and fishworkers coming together, from near and relatively far, at a specific locale on the seashore in order to go about their business.

The term Khoti is usually translated as ‘fish landing centre’. It is that. But, it is much more. It is a community of fishers and fishworkers coming together, from near and relatively far, at a specific locale on the seashore in order to go about their business.

10DISHA

The Khoti – Community Regime in Action

The Khoti – Community Regime in Action

The Khoti brings together an entire host of people. Fishers who take out boats and crew and catch fish. Sorters and driers; plus vendors and traders; and often shopkeepers, paramedics, and other people doing business within the Khoti area.

The Khoti brings together an entire host of people. Fishers who take out boats and crew and catch fish. Sorters and driers; plus vendors and traders; and often shopkeepers, paramedics, and other people doing business within the Khoti area.

11DISHA

The Dadanpatrabar Khoti SettlementThe Dadanpatrabar Khoti Settlement

12DISHA

The Dadanpatrabar Khoti SeafrontThe Dadanpatrabar Khoti Seafront

13DISHA

The Khoti – Self OrganisationThe Khoti – Self Organisation

This business involves massive cooperation. It also entails conflicts. And here we come to the Khoti’s meaning, significance and raison d'être.

The Khoti is the fishing community’s mode of civic and economic self-organisation; it is coming together by the fishers to ensure cooperation and to reduce and manage conflicts.

This business involves massive cooperation. It also entails conflicts. And here we come to the Khoti’s meaning, significance and raison d'être.

The Khoti is the fishing community’s mode of civic and economic self-organisation; it is coming together by the fishers to ensure cooperation and to reduce and manage conflicts.

14DISHA

The Nature of the Community – Who are these coastal fishers of West

Bengal?

The Nature of the Community – Who are these coastal fishers of West

Bengal?

The traditional coastal fishing community of West Bengal may be described as hunter-gatherers, directly harvesting the bounty of the sea. This is the fundamental thing about them.

The traditional coastal fishing community of West Bengal may be described as hunter-gatherers, directly harvesting the bounty of the sea. This is the fundamental thing about them.

15DISHA

Community – the Fall from GraceCommunity – the Fall from Grace

As a community, compelled by the needs of existence to organise themselves, they had very few scores to settle with the outside world. But the world outside was rapidly undergoing change and the results of the change started to be painfully felt by the community.

As a community, compelled by the needs of existence to organise themselves, they had very few scores to settle with the outside world. But the world outside was rapidly undergoing change and the results of the change started to be painfully felt by the community.

16DISHA

Bounty failsBounty fails

As the fish catch started falling to alarming levels by the late 1980s the fishing community of West Bengal awoke into an era of fall from grace.

As the fish catch started falling to alarming levels by the late 1980s the fishing community of West Bengal awoke into an era of fall from grace.

17DISHA

The World Invades the UniverseThe World Invades the Universe

Suddenly the external world started invading the fishers’ universe in a big way. Hotels and resorts started springing up with wild abandon on the East Medinipur coast. At two places, Digha and Shankarpur, tourism industry gobbled up the beach, cut off the fishers’ access to the sea and pushed thousands of fishers away. The same tale is being repeated at Mandarmani. Pollution from hotels, resorts and industries and mechanised trawling resulted in increasing decline of catch.

Suddenly the external world started invading the fishers’ universe in a big way. Hotels and resorts started springing up with wild abandon on the East Medinipur coast. At two places, Digha and Shankarpur, tourism industry gobbled up the beach, cut off the fishers’ access to the sea and pushed thousands of fishers away. The same tale is being repeated at Mandarmani. Pollution from hotels, resorts and industries and mechanised trawling resulted in increasing decline of catch.

18DISHA

Beach gobbled up – Tourist Resort at Mandarmani

Beach gobbled up – Tourist Resort at Mandarmani

19DISHA

Community and ConservationCommunity and Conservation

These are the developments which brought before the fishing community the question of conservation and management. The fight for survival became intimately tied with questions of protecting and conserving the sea and the coast.

These are the developments which brought before the fishing community the question of conservation and management. The fight for survival became intimately tied with questions of protecting and conserving the sea and the coast.

20DISHA

Summary of Findings –Summary of Findings –Demands that are Environmental prescriptionsDemands that are Environmental prescriptions

Our questions on what were the community demands, brought forth a gush from even ordinary members of the community. Some of these are –

• Put a stop to intensive prawn-farming in coastal area Put a stop to intensive prawn-farming in coastal area

• Ban trawlingBan trawling

• Ban Mosquito NetsBan Mosquito Nets

• Stop destruction of sand dunesStop destruction of sand dunes

Our questions on what were the community demands, brought forth a gush from even ordinary members of the community. Some of these are –

• Put a stop to intensive prawn-farming in coastal area Put a stop to intensive prawn-farming in coastal area

• Ban trawlingBan trawling

• Ban Mosquito NetsBan Mosquito Nets

• Stop destruction of sand dunesStop destruction of sand dunes

21DISHA

Demands that are environmental prescriptions

Demands that are environmental prescriptions

• Stop destruction of beach vegetation

• Protect coastal environment • Protect the sea from any kind of pollution• Protect the rivers from industrial pollution• Ban construction of nuclear reactors on the coast

• Stop destruction of beach vegetation

• Protect coastal environment • Protect the sea from any kind of pollution• Protect the rivers from industrial pollution• Ban construction of nuclear reactors on the coast

22DISHA

Wrongs provokes ‘rights’ – the right to the Sea

Wrongs provokes ‘rights’ – the right to the Sea

They had earned their livelihood from the sea and the shore from time immemorial. There never was a question of right, for nobody had questioned their practice. But with the external world invading their domain the question of practice became an issue of right. Hence the demand that stands out, implicitly and explicitly is:

‘Sea to the Fisher’ as ‘Land to the tiller’.

They had earned their livelihood from the sea and the shore from time immemorial. There never was a question of right, for nobody had questioned their practice. But with the external world invading their domain the question of practice became an issue of right. Hence the demand that stands out, implicitly and explicitly is:

‘Sea to the Fisher’ as ‘Land to the tiller’.

23DISHA

Summary of Findings –Humbler yet urgent

Summary of Findings –Humbler yet urgent

• Kerosene and diesel at subsidised rates

• Old age pension

• Repairs of roads

• Building of good roads

• Kerosene and diesel at subsidised rates

• Old age pension

• Repairs of roads

• Building of good roads

24DISHA

Summary of Findings –The Gender Issue

Summary of Findings –The Gender Issue

Women members of the Khoti are largely sorters and fish processors. Most of them have clearly articulated their demands:

• Proper crèche for children of women workers (sorters and fish processors)

• Proper latrine for sorters and fish processors

• Adequate Resting Places for Women workers

• Creating separate cooperatives for women

Women members of the Khoti are largely sorters and fish processors. Most of them have clearly articulated their demands:

• Proper crèche for children of women workers (sorters and fish processors)

• Proper latrine for sorters and fish processors

• Adequate Resting Places for Women workers

• Creating separate cooperatives for women

25DISHA

The Gender IssueThe Gender Issue

What emerged from the investigation and survey regarding the Khoti:

Women members of the Khoti (mostly sorters and fish driers) have pronounced grievances as evident from their demands

Apart from articulated demands, there could be sensed a deep underlying feeling of non-belonging and frustration.

What emerged from the investigation and survey regarding the Khoti:

Women members of the Khoti (mostly sorters and fish driers) have pronounced grievances as evident from their demands

Apart from articulated demands, there could be sensed a deep underlying feeling of non-belonging and frustration.

26DISHA

Cooperatives – A Tale of CorruptionCooperatives – A Tale of Corruption

18 Govt. sponsored cooperatives emerged in the East Medinipur district between 2002 and 2005.

However, they soon fell prey to corruption. Subsidies were embezzled through a process involving government officers and local politicians, and instead of serving the cause of fishers’ uplift it became a source of enrichment for a corrupt few. The result has been creation of distrust and tremendous bad blood. The much touted and cherished idea of community right has been shattered by the malpractice of these cooperatives backed by very active participation and patronization of the concerned govt. department.

18 Govt. sponsored cooperatives emerged in the East Medinipur district between 2002 and 2005.

However, they soon fell prey to corruption. Subsidies were embezzled through a process involving government officers and local politicians, and instead of serving the cause of fishers’ uplift it became a source of enrichment for a corrupt few. The result has been creation of distrust and tremendous bad blood. The much touted and cherished idea of community right has been shattered by the malpractice of these cooperatives backed by very active participation and patronization of the concerned govt. department.

27DISHA

The Crisis of the Community RegimeThe Crisis of the Community Regime

The sea and the coast is continuously invaded.

Pollution and eco-destruction rule supreme.

Declining fish catch jeopardises traditional fishing

Corruption, as in the case of cooperatives, shatters community unity.

Khoti not only reconciles conflicts, it often glosses over and conceals them. Yet grievances and conflicts continue to simmer.

The sea and the coast is continuously invaded.

Pollution and eco-destruction rule supreme.

Declining fish catch jeopardises traditional fishing

Corruption, as in the case of cooperatives, shatters community unity.

Khoti not only reconciles conflicts, it often glosses over and conceals them. Yet grievances and conflicts continue to simmer.

28DISHA

Study whom?Study whom?

However, the fate of the community depends to a great extent upon processes and events beyond the control of its members. If the harm that we are inflicting upon our environment continues, the sea will cease to yield and the traditional community of fishers and fishworkers cease to exist. And we will have been saved the trouble of discussing their rights.

However, the fate of the community depends to a great extent upon processes and events beyond the control of its members. If the harm that we are inflicting upon our environment continues, the sea will cease to yield and the traditional community of fishers and fishworkers cease to exist. And we will have been saved the trouble of discussing their rights.

29DISHA

GovernmentalityGovernmentality

At present the Government is trying to impose management measures (like seasonal ban on fishing, creation of marine protected areas and ‘no fishing zones’, ban on catching certain species etc.) by administrative orders. These however suffer from typical governmental alienation from ground reality and non-awareness of the need to involve the fishers’ community and organisations.

At present the Government is trying to impose management measures (like seasonal ban on fishing, creation of marine protected areas and ‘no fishing zones’, ban on catching certain species etc.) by administrative orders. These however suffer from typical governmental alienation from ground reality and non-awareness of the need to involve the fishers’ community and organisations.

30DISHA

RESTRICTIONS – FOR WHOM / WHO CARES?

RESTRICTIONS – FOR WHOM / WHO CARES?

Violation of laws and rules occurs mainly in the mechanized sector where the powerful commercial interests with strong political clout dominate over the community interests. In the process the whole purpose of restriction gets diluted and defeated.

Violation of laws and rules occurs mainly in the mechanized sector where the powerful commercial interests with strong political clout dominate over the community interests. In the process the whole purpose of restriction gets diluted and defeated.

31DISHA

Hoping Against HopeHoping Against Hope

However, the weakened and imperilled state of the present fishing community – torn again by many contradictions – raises the question whether it can strive successfully for proper coastal and marine management measures. But after all is said, it is the only community that has a real existential stake in protecting the coast and the sea.

However, the weakened and imperilled state of the present fishing community – torn again by many contradictions – raises the question whether it can strive successfully for proper coastal and marine management measures. But after all is said, it is the only community that has a real existential stake in protecting the coast and the sea.

32DISHA

Hoping Against HopeHoping Against Hope

Therefore if the government has a minimum sense of responsibility and willingness, a participatory management or co-management regime involving the community and involving strict surveillance both on the sea and the wholesale markets may yield better results.

Therefore if the government has a minimum sense of responsibility and willingness, a participatory management or co-management regime involving the community and involving strict surveillance both on the sea and the wholesale markets may yield better results.

33DISHA

HopeHope

The single major step that could bring about a sea change in fisheries management is to introduce “Aquatic Reforms” in the line of land reforms by giving non-transferable community ownership of the sea to the fishers (as custodians). The whole approach must be based on the principle of “Land to the Tiller”.

The single major step that could bring about a sea change in fisheries management is to introduce “Aquatic Reforms” in the line of land reforms by giving non-transferable community ownership of the sea to the fishers (as custodians). The whole approach must be based on the principle of “Land to the Tiller”.