Livelihood
Swadeep has been working on one of the key thematic interventions under the Livelihoods portfolio which is fisheries livelihood development. The fishery sector has witnessed serious crises during the last decade owing to its limitations to adjust to the changing environment. It is caught in a net of interrelated problems like lack of finance, lack of storage facilities, lack of awareness of market information, uncertain quality of fish, low level of education among fishermen, lack of availability of other and alternative profitable occupations, inadequate income, relatively high level of expenditure, extremes of climate and many more. Swadeep is standing strong with the community to provide basic amenities of everyday life and to helpthem achieve a better livelihood.
Not limited with just fishermen livelihood, Swadeep also carries other livelihood initiatives to help community anyway possible.
Gujarat is India’s largest marine fish producer, mostly due to its 1640 km long coastline supports four lakh population of fishermen and women. Three fishing communities are predominant in Gujarat. They are Kharvas, Kolis and Macchiyaras. Swadeep has been working since year 2013 for the upliftment of fishermen community in Mundra, Kutch and later at Jafrabad Taluka in Amreli. The objective of fisheries livelihood project is to ensure holistic development of livelihood option for fishermen.
Fisheries Information Center:
Swadeep has provided a one stop solution at just some foot steps away from their residences to get the proper scientific information about the fishing, types of fishes, the method of drying for better quality, product branding, market linkages and better price of the product. It has now also become a great resource for meeting and training accommodation at Tragadi port.
Providing aids and fishing equipment:
Swadeep identified the problems of fishermen community at Tragadi port and tried to better equip the fishermen withIce box,solar dryer, solar boat light, tarpaulin, toilet facility, Individual first aid box, boat first aid box, instruments for packaging, gloves, Ice box, solar boat light any many more.
Training and Capacity Building of Fishermen/Women:
To streng then the women of fishermen community at Tragadi port, 3 SHGs (Self Help Group) has been formed and the women are trained enough to develop quality products, packaging and marketing at their own. The trainings are conducted regularly for the topics like fish drying, formation of micro enterprise, saving of money, costal security and awareness of education for parents.
Government Scheme and collaborations:
The govt. is providing so many schemes for fishermen community at Tragadi port to help them in different areas. Swadeep is providing the connections between these two ends by spreading awareness of the related schemes, helping them in official paper works and being with them in any difficulty anyway in the procedure. Swadeep organizes the camps at Tragadi port to help them get the documents like Fishing license, Boat license, PAN card, Aadhar card, E-Shram card and Kissan credit card.
Sagar Shala:
Sagarshala is functioning in coordination with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan for the children of the families of fishermen living on Tragadi port. In which children are taught by teachers for STP class from government education department. Children's educational materials and in-school infrastructure supports are provided by CGPL with the implementation support of Swadeep. Total 120 students are registered in Sagarshala.
Helping the community affected by COVID-19:
Swadeep understands the importance of single earning resource which holds the full financial responsibility to feed a full family. During COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses are hit badly. Swadeep is standing strong by them to help them grow. We have provided livelihood resources to 10 people associated with the occupation of vegetable sellers, fruit sellers and cutlery vendors. The number might look small at this moment but for the families of these people, these resources have brought a new hope with a little touch of joy to be financially stabilized again. The ration kits were also distributed to the needy ones at the time of lockdown.