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Indian Journal of Pure & Applied Biosciences (IJPAB)
Year : 2020, Volume : 8, Issue : 4
First page : (294) Last page : (305)
Article doi: : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2582-2845.8262

Mainstreaming Gender in the Context of Seaweed Farming SHGs in Ramanathapuram: A Pragmatic Evaluation

Vipinkumar V.P.^1* , Johnson B.², Swathilekshmi P.S.³, Narayanakumar R.⁴, Ramachandran C.⁵, Shyam S. Salim⁶, Reshma Gills⁷, Vidya R.⁸, Athira P.V.⁹ and Dhanya G.^10
1Principal Scientist & ATIC Manager,
Socio Economic Evaluation & Technology Transfer Division, (SEETTD),
ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi, Kerala, India
²Scientist, SEETTD, Mandapam Regional Centre of CMFRI, Tamil Nadu
³Principal Scientist, SEETTD, Vizhinjam Regional Centre of CMFRI, Thiruvananthapuram
⁴Principal Scientist & Head, SEETTD, Chennai RC of CMFRI, Chennai
⁵Principal Scientist & Head i/c, SEETTD, CMFRI, Kochi
⁶Principal Scientist, SEETTD, CMFRI, Kochi
⁷Scientist, SEETTD, CMFRI, Kochi
⁸Scientist, Molluscan Fisheries Division (MFD), CMFRI, Kochi
⁹Junior Research Fellow, DST Project, SEETTD, CMFRI, Kochi
¹⁰Senior Technician, SEETTD, CMFRI, Kochi
*Corresponding Author E-mail: hortsuren@gmail.com
Received: 4.07.2020  |  Revised: 7.08.2020   |  Accepted: 13.08.2020 

 ABSTRACT

A pragmatic examination on the impact of women SHGs in gender mainstreaming was embarked on the 10 seaweed farming SHG units operating at Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu state.  An explorative assessment on extent of empowerment, performance level, gender characteristics and economic feasibility analysis was carried out based on socio-economic surveys and personal interviews using pre-tested and structured data gathering protocols with standardized scales and indices. Empowerment Index was quantified based on 8 relevant dimensions constituting it. The male and female counterparts of the families were separately interviewed to evaluate the gender mainstreaming aspects in terms of equity and equality to access to resources, participation profile, decision making aspects, gender need analysis etc. Though majority of activities are male dominated, the female counterparts of the households also have committed role in site selection, seeding, drying, packing etc. The Scales of ‘Performance Assessment’ and ‘Empowerment Index’ developed for this study have upright prospective for future use in other key areas on a sustainable basis. Voids identified in Empowerment Index computation give adequate feedback to authorities to proceed in the accurate direction and to follow apposite changes in strategies of the microenterprise. The gender dimension analysis on mainstreaming aspect gives sensitization on crucial issues like women fisherfolk’s rights and marketing channels for policies and other interventions on gender. The identified interrelationships between the variables an act as catalytic points for group action and empowerment on a maintainable basis. The indicative economics worked out for the economic feasibility analysis of the SHGs advocates that, the unit takes just one year to break even which shows the cost-effectiveness of the seaweed farming enterprise.

Keywords:  Gender mainstreaming, Self Help Group. Empowerment index, Performance level, Economic Feasibility

Full Text : PDF; Journal doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782

Cite this article: Vipinkumar, V.P., Johnson, B., Swathilekshmi, P.S., Narayanakumar, R., Ramachandran, C., Salim, S.S., Gills, R., Vidya, R., Athira, P.V., & Dhanya, G. (2020). Mainstreaming Gender in the Context of Seaweed Farming SHGs in Ramanathapuram: A Pragmatic Evaluation , Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. 8(4), 294-305. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2582-2845.8262