3R Pilot Project(Rebuilding, Revival, Reforms):

Ensuring Sustainable Livelihoods of Fisherwomen

The Project – ‘3R Package for Ensuring Sustainable Livelihood for Fisherwomen in Kerala (Rebuilding, Revival, Reforms)’ focused on ensuring better livelihood opportunities, employment and Socio-economic upliftment of fish vending women, beach workers, curers, peeling workers etc.

The project introduced a sustainable credit linked working capital subsidy scheme through the formation of 200 women Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) (160 JLGs in Kollam and 40 JLGs in Alappuzha), covering working fisherwomen in Kollam and Alappuzha districts on pilot basis. The total cost of the project was 178 lakhs.

Through this project, the formation of JLGs helped in preventing the exploitation of private moneylenders and also the fisherwomen were able to access institutional credit through Kerala bank, the banking partner in the project.

Formation of 200 JLGs covering 1000 working fisherwomen beneficiaries in Kollam and Alappuzha districts helped them to meet their short-term working capital requirements for their fish vending and peeling activities. The groups were provided financial assistance in the form of interest free working capital revolving fund (WCRF), JLG term loan and Kisan Credit card (KCC) facilities.

Objectives:

• To create strong base for institutional system and facilities for the women in fishing community to their financial inclusion by incorporating efficient management&monitoring systems with the use of technology.
• To promote self-employment among fisherwomen through the development of micro-enterprises.
• To help the fisherwomen in efficient management of the loan amount for income generation activities, thus ensuring employment and better livelihood opportunities.
• To ensure credit linkage for the fisherwomen for whom availing credit is difficult or inaccessible.