‘Need for gender plan of action’
Published: 10-10-2012
The Times of India
HYDERABAD: Though women play a major role in conservation of the eco-system, they are worst affected by the conflict between development and conservation which is why there is an urgent need to come up with a gender plan of action to ensure gender mainstreaming in conservation of biodiversity.
This was the crux of deliberations at a session on 'Women in Biodiversity: Reframing Conservation Debates' with particular focus on coastal and marine issues on Tuesday as part of which the plight of fisherwomen in coastal Odisha was highlighted by fisherwoman Chittiamma Buguru, who is advisor to the Odisha-based Samudram Women's Federation.
Talking about the marginalisation of women in the fisheries sector, Pradeep Chatterjee, secretary of the National Fishworkers' Forum said that despite their contribution women fish workers get negligible support from government policies as they have no voice. "Over 48% of fish workers are women, more than 73% of those involved in fish marketing are women and over 75% of the fish curing and processing work is done by fisherwomen, yet they get negligible support from government and have hardly any representation in governing bodies to make their voice heard. All the benefits of government policies are cornered by men," Chatterjee said.
Chandrika Sharma, executive secretary, International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF), pointed out the irony of the poor, particularly women, being the worst affected by development and conservation though they play a key role in conservation efforts and emphasized the need to empower them in the larger interests of biodiversity.
Published 7 months, 1 week ago under Law