Linking grassroots work to adopt inclusive policy: Experience of India Agriculture Scale Up Program in Bundelkhand region Neelkanth Mishra

Status of Inland fishery in India India is ranked second after China for inland fishery sector Fishery contributes significantly to the agriculture (5.4% GDP) and marginally to the national economy (1.04% GDP). The GDP contribution from fisheries sector has reached Rs.29, 707 crore (GBP 372 Bl.) in from Rs.245 crore(GBP 3 Bl.) in the year Indian share in global production has reached 4.36% per cent with 9.92% in inland and 2.8% in marine. The fisheries sector has been providing employment to over 2 Million fishermen through fishing operations.

3 Inland Fishery Program in Madhya Pradesh Objective  Secure fishing communities access and control over the fish ponds  Support women in gaining recognition as producers and owning/ managing business enterprises  Influence the State Government to enact policies in favour of women and men fisher folks Program outreach: fisherfolk Household Major achievement New State fishery policy in Madhya Pradesh

Issue: Lack of security over productive assets, long term lease et al. Double lease system, Lease to any one who can do fishing Unavailability of institutional input support( credit, seed, net etc.) Women are not considered as equal stakeholder Lack of priority by government for inland fishing Inability to participate in markets,  Contractors- who were controlling the ponds in actual practice.  Members of the community- who were giving the access to outsiders.  State -which through its policies and practice is non supportive Change in Relation required with:-

Mobilise Community into a collective force, Analysis of emerging issue for advocacy Institution building (Apex body) Address gender concern Local leadership development Interface with community, fishery dept. and policy makers Influence local political process as vote bank Process Adopted: Community Mobilization in Maria Vill. Formation of Apex Body Policy announcement District level Campaign Charter of demand to district official State workshop and linkages

Process led by community, participation and actions from the government officers and the political leaders. Most progressive policy compare to any other state in India Long term lease over pond to fishing community. Single lease for fish culture and other water crops The reasonable lease amounts and non-increase in the lease rate for the total lease period, and other concessions on lease including exemption and assistance during loss in calamities Ensuring 33% women membership in all new cooperatives Fisherfolk credit cards will be introduced. Conservation and stock enhancement measures for riverine fisheries Features of Inclusive fishery policy :

Learning’s: Program and policy advocacy needs to be complementary of each other Address core issue( e.g. in this program: control and access over resources) Strengthening institutional governance system is vital, The process needs to be integrated, comprehensive, decided and controlled by community themselves. Deliberate effort to be made to ensure womens participation and address gender concern Most crucially, Oxfam’s role as a facilitator, essential to build community confidence, develop sustainable models and ensure that project impacts are lasting. Community seek continuous and long term engagement

Challenges: Proper implementation of policy enacted Community leadership that can become autocratic, centralized and anti-people. Corruption financial, moral and political. Gender mainstreaming as tokenistic approach. Process of separation between right based work and market intervention Dependence on NGO and funding agency.

Further scaling up, through:- Facilitate proper implementation of New Fishery policy in State Extension and awareness through Bundelkhand Fisherfolk forum Address unresolved issue related to fisherfolks welfare and market support Institution building (Producer org., Womens collective) Influencing other state governments (Bihar, Chatisgarh, UP, Orissa) Promoting women’s economic leadership