India: Engendering social capital
Vagaira groups, a type of family support mechanism, facilitate ‘successful’ internal migration amongst fishers on the East Coast of India
Marine fisheries in India is a caste-based occupation, with a social and political hierarchy in place. For those belonging to the subordinate fishing castes, excluded from decision-making processes at home, migration is an important strategy for gaining economic resources, social power and recognition as skilled and successful marine fishermen. In this pilot study, we explore the processes and mechanisms underlying the internal migration of fishers in coastal Tamil Nadu, India, and the pathways to ‘success’ both in terms of social mobility and material wellbeing. We interviewed 65 migrants, both men and women, who have moved from Rajakuppam, their village in Tamil Nadu’s Cuddalore district, to Kasimedu in the state’s capital – Chennai.
Title of publication: Yemaya ICSF's Newsletter on Gender and Fisheries
Issue: 68
Page range: 16-19
Author: Nitya Rao
Other authors: J. D Sophia
Organization: The International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF)
Year: 2023
Country/ies: India
Geographical coverage: Asia and the Pacific
Type: Newsletter article
Full text available at: https://www.icsf.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Yemaya-68_India_Nitya_Rao.pdf
Content language: English