Assessing labour mobility in marine fishing operations in Karnataka

Abstract

Mobility of labour across the country continues as a major source of labour supply in ensuring economic development across all sectors including the primary sector. The migrant labour in search of better employment emancipates better living conditions through meaningful employment and better financial status. The coastal states of Maharashtra with commendable marine fish landings provides states with commendable marine fish landings provide ample opportunities for migrant fishing labour across the year. The migrant labors are involved in harvest and post harvest operations. The present study tries to assess the major factors leading to labour migration and its effect in the state of Karnataka state. About 100 respondents were met for a primary survey and result reveals that the migration leads to the increase in savings. Majority (57 percent) of the respondents were youth (Below 30). Most respondents completed high school levels of education. The respondents migrated from 5 different states with majority from Jharkhand (36%), Assam (23%) and Orissa (13%) to Mangalore district in Karnataka and the 54 percent respondents migrated in the year 2000. Garrett ranking method assessed the main reason and problems of migration and also used to find the effect of migration on socioeconomic status. The main reason for migration is the low income and the major difficulty during migration was the difficulty in language. The major achievement of the migrant labour had been the quality education provided to their children.

Labour Mobility In Marine Fisheries Sector: A Case Study From Odisha State, Eastern India

“…The income status of the respondents was also analysed, which indicated that about 96% of the migrants had monthly earnings between ₹10,000 to ₹20,000, whereas 3.4% of the respondents earned above ₹20,000 and about 0.7% of the migrants earned below ₹10,000 per month (Table 1). Shyam et al (2021b) in their study in Karnataka, reported that 67% of the respondents have income range of ₹20,000 to 30,000 followed by 23% having income less than ₹20,000.…”

“…It can be noted that 80% of the head of the families were found illiterate and a 12% were having upper primary education (Table 1). In a study among the migrants in Karnataka, Shyam et al (2021b) revealed that 52% had completed high school, with 28% having completed secondary school level education.…”

“…The dire straits of coastal fishermen mainly poverty, indebtedness and income inequalities lead the fishermen to migrate from their native place to other places for better living conditions (Shyam et al, 2017). The movement of fishermen has influenced the repercussions on the economies of both the native and host areas (Shyam et al, 2021b).…”