Qualities of self-governance and wellbeing in the fishing communities of northern Tamil Nadu, India - the role of Pattinavar ur panchayats

Abstract

Despite non-recognition by state authorities, informal councils (Tamil: ur panchayats) are known to comprehensively govern the fishing villages of the Coromandel Coast, Tamil Nadu, India. These councils take charge of an amalgam of village affairs, including the management of fisheries in adjacent sea territories, the resolution of disputes, and interlocution with outside parties. In summary, their duty is to ensure the wellbeing of the fisher population. Arguing that ur panchayats constitute an institutionalized form of collective action, this article investigates their contemporary role in the districts of Nagapattinam and Karaikal. It makes use of interactive governance theory and the concept of self-governance. The article is based on ethnographic field research carried out in the fourth quarter of 2013.

The Human Relationship with Our Ocean Planet

“…Uur panchayats' prime responsibility is social and territorial in nature and ultimately anchored in control over people as well as territory (Bavinck and Vivekanandan 2017). All adult men are considered members of the community and are considered equal-a fact mirrored not only in the structure of village meetings (members seated in a circle at the same level) but in the consensus approach to decision-making (Bavinck 2001b).…”

Demographic change in Asian fishing communities – Drivers, outcomes and potential impacts

“…Most of these ethnic groups have limited geographic presence, with each coastal state home to one or more of them. For instance, Pattinavars are the dominant fishing community who reside along the Coromandel coast of Northern Tamil Nadu and follow a strong traditional fishery governance system with a network of ur panchayats (village councils) that discharge an amalgam of village affairs including management of fisheries and resolution of disputes (Bavinck and Vivekanandan, 2017). In contrast, the fishing villages of the Kanyakumari region of Tamil Nadu are dominated by the Mukkuvars who are traditional seafarers and are believed to have migrated from the neighbouring island country, Sri Lanka (Samuel, 1998).…”

Implications of legal pluralism for socio-technical transition studies – scrutinizing the ascendancy of the ring seine fishery in India

“…State law is, however, not the only source of regulation in Tamil Nadu fisheries, where legal pluralism is the rule. The fisheries of the Coromandel Coast, that stretches over approximately 400 km of shore, are thus well-known for the strength of caste-based fisher councils, or ur panchayat (Tamil), which have traditionally played a key role in ensuring the wellbeing of hamlet populations (Bavinck and Vivekanandan 2017). Rooted in patrilineal kinship structures, and based on principles of equality, ur panchayats provide strong, local decision-making platforms, taking care of dispute resolution, representation to government, community welfare, and fisheries management (Bavinck 2001).…”

“…Fisher law emanates from the fisher councils that function in each hamlet. Although these councils still possess considerable force, recent research (Bavinck and Vivekanandan 2017) demonstrates variability with regard to structure, scope, and activity; these are probably related to changes in the macro-environment, or landscape, as sketched above.…”