ISSN (Print) - 0012-9976 | ISSN (Online) - 2349-8846

Articles by Ramachandra BhattaSubscribe to Ramachandra Bhatta

The Role of Social Capital in the Performance of Fish Businesses

Fisheries are an intensive sector that provide a livelihood to many people, including fisherfolk, retailers, head loaders and others. While the government has made attempts to improve the infrastructure, such as harbours and cold storage systems, there has been no investment in improving the fishers’ access to social capital. The analysis of survey data for 268 usable sampled fish retailers, 235 women and 33 men, clearly indicates substantial improvements in the profitability and business turnover when there is access to social capital. It is suggested that incorporating strategies which enhance social capital in the market institutions would restore and enhance the role of fisherwomen in the fish businesses.

Doubling India’s Farm Incomes

The Government of India aims to double farm incomes by 2022. A mechanism of payment for ecosystem services, which would compensate farmers for the value of the non-market agroecosystem services they produce, would address the issues of farm income and the deep ecological crisis in agriculture. This strategy would be within the fiscal ability of the government and would only use the existing allocation for agriculture. The institutional framework required to implement PES already exists. If properly implemented, PES could persuade Indian farmers to adopt ecologically sensitive agricultural practices which, in turn, could double farm income.

The Multiple Displacements of Mangalore Special Economic Zone

This paper analyses three different types of displacement - social, cultural and economic - in the lives of three women and their families which have been affected by the creation of the Mangalore special economic zone. Conceptualising the displacements in rhythmic terms, it first details the subversion of progressive land reforms and the reassertion of caste-based oppression, followed by the clash between the dharma of the spirits of the land and the neo-liberal dharma of capitalistic development. Finally, it looks at life in a resettlement colony where families that have been uprooted from the agricultural production cycle are closed off from the urban life they are expected to adopt.

Karnataka: Conserving Coastal Resources

The Karnataka government's red carpet welcome to investors to exploit the many advantages of the state's three coastal districts, raises issues of environmental protection, access to natural resources by local communities and impact assessment of such industrial development. Three recent meets brought out a wide range of aspects influencing investors and affecting locals in the process of such development.

Marine Fish Production in Karnataka

This paper attempts to assess the long-term trend in marine fish production in Karnataka using two different growth functions and analyses the changes in species composition during the past three decades. It argues that not only has there been a falling trend in production but also a change in species composition resulting in the decline of hitherto commercially important fish as well as those consumed by local communities. It suggests that this decline is not just a seasonal fluctuation but an indication of fish famine in terms of both production and accessibility.

Karnataka: SEZs and the Environment

A recent workshop on coastal SEZs in the state sought to highlight the importance of such zones, provided an overview of the rules, regulations and incentives, the possible implications for the environment of the region, and the importance of ensuring transparency in conducting an environmental impact analysis.

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