612
4. Fishermen belonging to ‘Kaibarta’, ‘Patni’,
‘Maimal’ and ‘Namasudra’ communities
have been recorded in the 39 villages around
Sone Beel.
5. The Kaibarta constitute c 68.14 % of the
total fi shermen, while the Namasudra
account for only c 4.91 %.
6. Kaibarta form c 55.04 % of the professional
class, while the Namasudras account for
only c 2.51 %.
7. The ‘occasional fi shermen’ take recourse to
fi shing only when an ‘occasion’ arises or
when the situation compels. They constitute
c 15 % of the fi shermen population of the
Beel.
8. The ‘part-time fi shermen’ fi sh only during
part of a year and consider this activity as
equal to or inferior to other activities of this
group. They constitute c 15 % of the fi sherfolk population of Sone Beel.
9. The ‘professional fi shermen’ is the largest
group among the fi shing communities in
Sone Beel constituting c 70 % of the total
fi shermen population. They fi sh throughout
the year with the help of diverse types of
fi shing gears and devices.
10. In Sone Beel, fi shing is the principal way of
earning livelihood by the poor fi shermen.
‘Dori’ is the most effi cacious and is sequentially followed by ‘Jhaki jal’, ‘Haran jal’,
‘Ghuran jal’, ‘Patan jal’, ‘Chat jal’, ‘Lar
barshi’ and ‘Maha jal’.
11. The per capita income (PCI) of the fi shermen
is low and ranges from Rs. 1.30 to 8.25
(mean: Rs. 3.83 ± 2.14) according to the
1981 census.
12. Poor literacy (10–20 %) may be considered
as the principal factor of their fi nancial
hardship.
13. There had not been much ambitious welfare
measures adopted for the fi sherfolk.
14. The fi shermen grow paddy at the DSL of the
Beel, mainly to tide over hardship.
15. Religion forms a part and parcel of the daily
life of the fi shermen living around Sone
Beel. Both Hindus and Muslims adore and
worship a Muslim Hermit, called ‘Sond
Peer’ or ‘Hond Peer’ (after whom the Beel
had been named ‘Sone Beel’).
16. In view of the nature of economic constraints
faced by the fi shermen, it is strongly felt that
elimination of unscrupulous middlemen by
organising credit facilities, marketing of
product and purchase of domestic as well as
production requirements through cooperatives would go a long way in the emancipation of the fi sherfolk.
17. Further, encouragement of IMC culture in
the confi ned ‘Bundhs’ at the DSL of the Beel
could lead to a potential IMC fi shery.
18. Fast conveyance of the catch from the fi shing
centres to the fi sh landing stations and the
urban markets would accelerate fi sh trade.
Provision of cold storage facilities in the
landing stations and the urban markets would
be an added advantage.
19. However, in both lentic and lotic systems,
there are certain interesting spots, which are
signifi cantly different from other areas of the
water bodies with regard to possibility of
fetching a richer catch. Such spots are more
apparent at the DSL of the water bodies and
are distinguished from others by certain features, like increased depth and favourable
physico-chemical characteristics of water.
Such ‘distinguished spots’, where intense
fi shing goes on at DSL, are regarded as
‘fi shing centres’(locally called ‘Bundhs’).
The ‘Bundhs’ witness rich harvest, particularly
on ‘Paush Sangkranti’ (‘Pongol’) Eve, when
fi shing goes on almost for the whole night in
festive mood.
20. On the other hand, the fi sh markets on the
shoreline of the Beels, where the caught
fi shes land for the fi rst time, are called the
‘fi sh landing stations’.
21. The places (mainly at the urban city centres)
where the fi shes are sold are the ‘fi sh markets’.
22. The cooperative movement has not much
geared up, and the Fishermens’ Co-operatives
have not been very active in this region.
23. Almost similar type of situation occurs in
other wetlands in India and SE Asia, although
the magnitude of the issues may vary.
28 Fishermen in Wetlands
4. Fishermen belonging to ‘Kaibarta’, ‘Patni’,
‘Maimal’ and ‘Namasudra’ communities
have been recorded in the 39 villages around
Sone Beel.
5. The Kaibarta constitute c 68.14 % of the
total fi shermen, while the Namasudra
account for only c 4.91 %.
6. Kaibarta form c 55.04 % of the professional
class, while the Namasudras account for
only c 2.51 %.
7. The ‘occasional fi shermen’ take recourse to
fi shing only when an ‘occasion’ arises or
when the situation compels. They constitute
c 15 % of the fi shermen population of the
Beel.
8. The ‘part-time fi shermen’ fi sh only during
part of a year and consider this activity as
equal to or inferior to other activities of this
group. They constitute c 15 % of the fi sherfolk population of Sone Beel.
9. The ‘professional fi shermen’ is the largest
group among the fi shing communities in
Sone Beel constituting c 70 % of the total
fi shermen population. They fi sh throughout
the year with the help of diverse types of
fi shing gears and devices.
10. In Sone Beel, fi shing is the principal way of
earning livelihood by the poor fi shermen.
‘Dori’ is the most effi cacious and is sequentially followed by ‘Jhaki jal’, ‘Haran jal’,
‘Ghuran jal’, ‘Patan jal’, ‘Chat jal’, ‘Lar
barshi’ and ‘Maha jal’.
11. The per capita income (PCI) of the fi shermen
is low and ranges from Rs. 1.30 to 8.25
(mean: Rs. 3.83 ± 2.14) according to the
1981 census.
12. Poor literacy (10–20 %) may be considered
as the principal factor of their fi nancial
hardship.
13. There had not been much ambitious welfare
measures adopted for the fi sherfolk.
14. The fi shermen grow paddy at the DSL of the
Beel, mainly to tide over hardship.
15. Religion forms a part and parcel of the daily
life of the fi shermen living around Sone
Beel. Both Hindus and Muslims adore and
worship a Muslim Hermit, called ‘Sond
Peer’ or ‘Hond Peer’ (after whom the Beel
had been named ‘Sone Beel’).
16. In view of the nature of economic constraints
faced by the fi shermen, it is strongly felt that
elimination of unscrupulous middlemen by
organising credit facilities, marketing of
product and purchase of domestic as well as
production requirements through cooperatives would go a long way in the emancipation of the fi sherfolk.
17. Further, encouragement of IMC culture in
the confi ned ‘Bundhs’ at the DSL of the Beel
could lead to a potential IMC fi shery.
18. Fast conveyance of the catch from the fi shing
centres to the fi sh landing stations and the
urban markets would accelerate fi sh trade.
Provision of cold storage facilities in the
landing stations and the urban markets would
be an added advantage.
19. However, in both lentic and lotic systems,
there are certain interesting spots, which are
signifi cantly different from other areas of the
water bodies with regard to possibility of
fetching a richer catch. Such spots are more
apparent at the DSL of the water bodies and
are distinguished from others by certain features, like increased depth and favourable
physico-chemical characteristics of water.
Such ‘distinguished spots’, where intense
fi shing goes on at DSL, are regarded as
‘fi shing centres’(locally called ‘Bundhs’).
The ‘Bundhs’ witness rich harvest, particularly
on ‘Paush Sangkranti’ (‘Pongol’) Eve, when
fi shing goes on almost for the whole night in
festive mood.
20. On the other hand, the fi sh markets on the
shoreline of the Beels, where the caught
fi shes land for the fi rst time, are called the
‘fi sh landing stations’.
21. The places (mainly at the urban city centres)
where the fi shes are sold are the ‘fi sh markets’.
22. The cooperative movement has not much
geared up, and the Fishermens’ Co-operatives
have not been very active in this region.
23. Almost similar type of situation occurs in
other wetlands in India and SE Asia, although
the magnitude of the issues may vary.
28 Fishermen in Wetlands