Parity in socio-economic status of fishers and primary producers of coastal India

Abstract

The results revealed that parity existed between the fishers and primary producers with respect to their family size, religion, social group, training, subsidiary activity, employment status, land ownership, savings account and membership with associations. However, there is no parity in the literacy, MGNREG beneficiaries, land utilising for cultivation and average monthly expenditure. The literates among fishers and agricultural households are found to be more than rural average literacy rate. There is scope to increase the MGNREG beneficiaries among fishers through proper implementation of the scheme to reduce the unemployment during lean season as their percentage was found to be less than the agricultural households. The fishers engaged in subsidiary activity were found to be less. Since the average income of fishers was less than the agricultural households, motivation of fishers to take up subsidiary activities may provide them to earn additional income to overcome the debt trap and during lean seasons. The average monthly consumption expenditure of fishers was comparatively lesser than the agricultural households because of their poor accessibility to various goods and services.