G. B. Chand* & Saquib Asghar
Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Patna University, Patna, Bihar, India
Received : 18th January, 2023 ; Revised : 18th February, 2023
Abstract– The present study was conducted along the 39 Ghats from Digha to Didarganj in the Patna District of Bihar, with an objective to explore the demographic status of local fishermen communities, their academic, hygienic and health status, availability of the basic infrastructural facilities for livelihood, fish culture practices, marketing facilities and role of fisher in fisheries development. First of all, a list of various Ghats located along the bank of river Ganga between Digha to Didarganj in Patna was procured from the district fisheries department and concerned Thana, and then fish Ghats were surveyed for the demographic details and the socio-economic condition of the fishermen community residing there. For this the questionnaire was designed to get information on the demography, socioeconomic profile of fisher, the major fisheries activities performed by them, and to find out the problems encountered by the fish farmers for adoption of scientific fish farming practices. The primary data were collected directly as of the sampled respondents (randomly selected 101 fishermen and women) by visiting their location a number of times to get necessary relevant information like their family structure, their assets, occupation, investment, expenditure incurred in fish farming etc. with the help of precise and pre-tested schedule-cum questionnaire. The response sheets were systematically studied and data were generated separately for family structure, demography, academic status, health & hygiene, socio-economic status, availability and implementation of government schemes for the fishermen community, any positive intervention of non-government organization and cooperative societies like COFFED for the upliftment of their socio economic status etc. Majority of the fisher were middle aged, poorly educated, living in medium size joint family with low income and poor economic status. Most of the fisherwomen had poor extension contact and low level of mass media exposure and majority of the fishermen had a low level of knowledge, less social participation and they were traditional in their outlook. The present study revealed that large family size, non-availability of fishing gear/net, scarcity of opportunities for alternate employment etc. are the main cause of poverty of fisher families in the area. The findings of the present study may be critically analysed by the technocrats, government officials and state fishery department to decipher an amicable way for the benefit of the fishermen community of the state and to develop strategies for upliftment of their socio economic status in the state. It will definitely help in planning, development and execution of fishery policy and programme by the planners and administrators, policy makers and fishery extension educationists in a more meaningful and scientific manner.
Key words: Socioeconomic status, demography, fishermen community, Patna, strategies, upliftment.
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