A STUDY ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL PROFILE OF FISHERMEN IN PUDUCHERRY REGION, INDIA.

The study focused on the socio-economic and cultural profile of the fishermen living in community villages in Puducherry Region. The objective of the study is to analyse the socio-economic conditions as well as the problems faced by the fisher folk. To study the factors 200 sample respondents were interviewed with duly constructed schedule of questions by using the simple random sampling method. The outcome of the study revealed that 92% belong to Hindus and very meager (8%) from Christian community. Fishermen venture into sea is aging between 41 and 45 years (43%) and they only have primary level education. Regarding their income it ranges between Rs. 5,000 and Rs.20,000 p.m. Only 12% of the respondents earn more than Rs.20,000 p.m. Majority of the respondents are living in the Government provided tsunami houses. Rest of them dwells in their own house. Good majority of the fishermen habituated to use latest mobile phones (86%) and accustomed to live with basic necessities such as TVs and other home appliances despite of their low income. Puducherry is famous for liquor since its French regime. Therefore most of the fishermen (62%) addict to liquor. More than 30% of their total income is spent for consumption of liquor. This is the cause of concern for this community. The major problems of fishermen were identified as selling of fish, price fixing, marketplace & finance for investment. Those problems are perceived by the fishermen as serious issues. The fishermen expect the from the Government to arrange certain facilities like short period loans, transportation, set up of more fish markets and processing units open for marketing of fish.