Fisheries is an important source of food, nutrition, employment and income in India. The sector provides livelihood to about 16 million fishers and fish farmers at the primary level and almost twice the number along the value chain. Recognising the importance of the sector, an independent Department of Fisheries was created in 2019 to provide sustained and focused attention towards the development of the fisheries sector. The fish production in India has registered an average annual growth rate of more than seven per cent in recent years. The sector has been one of the major contributors of foreign exchange earnings with India being one of the leading seafood exporting nations in the world.
In recent years, the number of policy shifts that have taken place in India especially on the environmental front is quite alarming when looked at from the perspective of the natural resource-dependent communities. The latest being the Indian Marine Fisheries Bill 2021. In this context, it is essential that the information for the fishworkers regarding their livelihood and the cost to the environment needs to be percolated to the ground. This makes it essential to build a support group which will be informed, aimed at assisting the fishworker organizations in building up perspectives, shoulder to shoulder in addressing the issues of the coast, environment and livelihood through an engagement with the research and policy matters related to the coast and environment.
What is Youth for the coast?
Youth for the Coast hosted its first national workshop as a six day training programme in Goa which was attended by 22 youngsters from various fields who work or are keen to work on various aspects of the ocean and coast in India.
This second call for the Youth for the Coast programme which will be for mid-career practitioners/ activists to develop their understanding of ocean and coastal issues and extend solidarity and support to people’s movements and organisations. These regional workshops will be inviting applications from young activists based out of Tamil Nadu or people who are keen on working in Tamil Nadu.
Objectives:
- To create a fundamental understanding of ocean and coast as an ecological system that supports livelihoods of people engaged in the small-scale fisheries sector.
- To develop an understanding of how the dynamics between ecology, socio-economic and socio-political aspects of the ocean and coast are linked.
- To introduce basic history of fisheries development in India and the narrative of struggle from people’s movements to contextualise discussions on present challenges focussing on Tamil Nadu.
- To give an overview of how law, policy, and governance of the ocean and coast are structured and are changing under the Blue Economy
- To collate and expand on the coastal issues specific to Tamil Nadu and understand the history and working of coastal movements in Tamil Nadu.
Programme
The first workshop of Youth for the Coast was a six-day residential course for the selected participants that was to equip them with information and resources that confront the complex socio-ecology of land and water. During this course in Goa, the lectures and zoom sessions that have been recorded are in the process of being developed as a website.
The second regional workshop focuses on issues in Tamil Nadu which will encourage the participants in peer-to-peer learning, participate in field visits, engage with community leaders, academics and activists currently working on coastal issues to create their own chosen project/intervention they would like to design and implement. The participants will also be introduced to movements/organizations, perspectives and policy related matters nationally and also specific to Tamil Nadu working with the coastal communities to facilitate understanding of fishworkers regarding the policy shifts happening in their areas which will help them respond at the local, regional and national level.
Who can apply
Fishworkers, youth from coastal communities, researchers, media practitioners, interested in engaging with the issues of coast, primarily from the nine coastal states from Tamil Nadu or intend to work on issues on Tamil Nadu.
Age limit: 22-35 years
Language: Primarily English and Tamil; Interpretation will be provided in Tamil and English.
Contribution: This programme is free of cost. However, the shortlisted participants are expected to submit a refundable amount of Rs. 2000/-.
Health instruction: Any participant attending this workshop needs to produce an RTPCR negative certificate not more than 72 hours on arrival. The workshop will be conducted maintaining the Covid-19 safe protocols:, proper ventilation, intermittent sanitation will be ensured for the participants, resource people and staff at the venue.
Dates:
Day of Arrival – 25th August 2021
Programme Days – 26th August – 30th August 2021
Day of Departure – 31st August 2021 before 10am
Travel: Participants are expected to make their own arrangements to arrive in Puducherry on the 25th August 2021 and depart on the 31st August 2021. We request participants to make their arrangements via train (sleeper/third AC) /bus as far as possible. Travel expenses of upto a maximum of INR 5500 upon submission of original bills/tickets will be reimbursed.
Venue: Puducherry, Tamil Nadu
How to apply:
To apply for the Youth for the Coast programme, kindly fill in this application form: www.tinyurl.com/y7vcad3e
Last date: 14th August 2021
Contact: Write to [email protected] / [email protected] for any queries regarding the programme.