Visakhapatnam: A substantial increase has been registered in the dried fish consumption in recent years. This sector largely engages women from the fishing community, offering them regular earnings and they, in turn, make this a profitable enterprise.
These women, who form the backbone of the industry, encounter numerous challenges and operate under inadequate working conditions. The state fisheries department had pledged to provide them with solar-powered machines to facilitate fish processing. This has not been done.
The conditions in which women are engaged in the dried fish processing here are pathetic. Following the modernisation of the Visakhapatnam Harbour, the district administration and the fisheries department promised to relocate hundreds of these women.
P. Lakshmana Rao, joint director of fisheries, stated in an interview with Deccan Chronicle, "We have allocated a 5-acre parcel in Thimmapuram for these women. We attempted to install fish drying machines there, but it proved unfeasible. Now, we are focused on developing the requisite infrastructure for fish drying in that area."
The fisherwomen have raised their apprehensions about their relocation decision. Upon the fish's arrival at the harbour, the fisherwomen go into action and process these in sunlight, with an addition of salt.
However, their proposed shift to Thimmapuram would cause them problems. Distance from the harbour, for one. The Visakha town fisherwomen dry fish cooperative society consisting of 164 fisherwomen produces 8 tonnes of dried fish daily. They utilise the open space at the Vizag fishing harbour for the drying.
In 1985, the district administration announced plans to shift these women to Thimmapuram. The women filed a case and the high court ruled in 1987 that ten acres of land should be allocated for their housing in Thimmapuram, along with an additional five acres designated for fish drying. It stipulated that there must be complete infrastructure development to suit these women’s needs.
However, nothing of the sort was established. These women, faced with several challenges there, later returned to the Vizag fishing harbour to continue their operations.
Meanwhile, the modernisation of the harbour approaches completion. Officials have again took a decision to relocate the women to Thimmapuram.
While officials had previously promised the installation of solar-powered machines to dry the fish, the machines they provided have a capacity for processing only one tonne at a time. The women say these machines are not in a position to offer work to all the 164 members.
Marupilli Parvathamma, president of the fisherwomen cooperative society, remarked, "Although `1.62 crore was allocated for infrastructure development, too little has been provided for us in Thimmapuram."
Mylapalli Ernamma, the society secretary, voiced her concern stressed the requirement of proper transportation to ensure the viability of dried fish production in Thimmapuram.
The dried fish sector in Andhra Pradesh is profitable. Sales peak particularly during fishing bans or lean seasons when the availability of fresh fish diminishes.
Dried fish is available year-round and is even exported internationally. It serves as a staple food for tribal communities residing in the hills, who rely on it mostly. Daily reach of fresh fish from the seas is difficult in these distant locations.
