In the neighboring coastal villages Tamil Nadu’s Mayiladuturai and Nagapattinam district and the Puduchherry district of Karaikal, there is a quiet but determined change with women looking for legs, even in the middle of the patriarchal “Panchayatar”, which decides in fishing communities. For generations, public decisions in these communities were checked by men in a deep -rooted “Panchayatar” system, which is a structure unique to the coastal fishing villages. Every week, male elders of the different sections convene “OOR Kootams” (village rally), which rule about issues from domestic disputes to political affairs. Although they are to be open to everyone, these meetings have long been ruled out by women. Their presence was considered inappropriate or even rebellious.
No woman as “panchayatar” has been named yet, and the structure remains firmly patriarchal. However, permanent organization at the local level – mostly women and supported by the NGO Social needs of education and awareness of man (Sneha) – is preparing the way to change. Once female teams are recognized as serious stakeholders, after the industry. Today, “Panchayatars” is increasingly forced to consult with them before the big decisions.
Redefine traditions
In Nambiyar Nagar, Nagapattinam, women were first allowed to announce on stage during the annual Temple festival three years ago. This broke the long -term barrier. In a nearby Kameshwaam, a female team installed the album that declared its opposition to the gifts of the “Nalang”, the usual offers of female families during the ceremonies of the passage.
In Poompuhara, Mayiladuthurai, the community has undertook to sell forbidden tobacco products or liqueur, while against the marriage of children and usury. In Karaikal, women from local teams joined the “Panchayatars” of all 10 coastal villages in Garland, celebrating the Singaraavelar statue, the famous Labor leader who came from the fishing community. The seven coastal villages in Karaikal kept alcohol shops outside their community, which is the main step in promoting public health and safety control. Most remarkably, through a permanent organization of women from all three districts, they forced the male “Panchayatary” to declare their opposition to “Sambandhi Seer”, the form of dowry.
“Before we join the team, none of us had bank accounts. Now we are doing it. The only common account that our husbands has is with us,” laughs K. Kalaimathi, President of Fisherwomen’s Federation in Kollidam, Mayiladuthurai.
Fisherwomen, a renowned institution in coastal villages, was to operate independently of male societies. Many of them still work in parallel with the bodies of men, but the years of permanent defense have allowed some of these institutions to become autonomous. Association in the village also helps to save communities. Members contribute 200- £ 500 £ per month. The associated funds are distributed by rotation. Financial matters are discussed in open forums and leaders are elected democratically. “In groups of microfinance, if one woman fails, others suffer. Here, if someone is fighting, the others will come to help,” says Mrs. Kalaimathi.
Steely Resolve: Fisherwomen at a meeting in Nagapattinam to discuss the issues concerning community. The female teams helped fishermen to become financially independent and seized them to decide. | Photo Credit: M. Moorthy
These teams also support the livelihood through small businesses: the production of spice mixtures in Tharangambadi and Srkazhi; detergents and disinfectants in collidam; and the shrimp of cucumbers in Thirumullaivasal. These products are also popular abroad. “Previously, when we gathered for meetings, men mocked us.
“Moment of the River Basin”
D. Selvarani of Zambiyar Nagar, the first female administrator of the temple of Neel Dhakshayini, says the fishermen’s movement has broken barriers. “They trust me because of my involvement in the movement. It has never happened in our village,” he says. T. Dravidha Selvi, Vice -President of Thirupoondi East Panchayat and the inhabitants of the village of Kamesware, remembers the moment of the basin. “Last year, we were invited to” Panchayatar’s Oor Kootam “for the first time to discuss the proposed Sipcot project in our village. They listened to our opinions – just because we knew we were part of the movement.” Deepalaxmi of Chinnamed explains: “Compared to earlier times, men think twice before they swear us. Domestic violence has decreased. We are talking to certainty at Gram Sabha.
Almost every fisherman who spoke to Hindu expressed a strong desire to see that women would become “panchayatary” one day. They stressed that the actual representation requires women to have a place at the table. “We don’t just want to be heard, we want to make a decision,” says C. Jeyanthi, a 65 -year -old Karaikal fisherman.
But men are still not warm. RMP Rajendra Nattar, who served as “Panchayatar” for 31 years in Keechandkuppam in Nagapattinam and is president of the Indian National Fishing Association, says: “Women often contribute in our fishing community. Although it recognizes the role of female teams in raising important questions, they claim that most women will not become a “panchayatary” themselves. “They believe that the existing structure led by men will protect their interests,” he says. He believes that the “Panchayatar” system should stay under men.
In this region there are important fishing communities – Pattinavars, Sembadavars and Parvatatharajakulam. From Kollidam to Kodiyakarai, these villages historically operated as the only cohesive social unit. Their management system, rooted in collective decision -making, is concentrated around the network traditionally called “64 villages”. The system is led by the main village and supported by sub -regional centers. This traditional structure precedes independence and has turned out to be resistant and adaptable. “Panchayatary” are selected by voice vote every three years. Formal choices or hereditary sequence also occur depending on local practice. However, the system remains deeply patriarchal in its core, ”says R. Sridhar, a scientist at Iit-Delhi, who studied and worked between coastal communities.
Ponni K., a fisherman of Chinnangudi, Mayiladuthurai, emphasizes: “In a love marriage, in a love marriage, she is deposited in a love family in a love marriage when she marry but in a love marriage, but she can be in a penalty at a time. But at a time when it is a fine, it is a fine, but at a time, but in a fine, but in the fact that it is fine, but in that it is okay.
K. Vethavalli, former leader of the Karaikal Fisherwomen, won the battles of the courts, including cases against the “Panchayatar”, which excluded women for allegedly defying traditional standards. “Our fight is triple,” he says. “We face resistance from our families, neglect of the government and exploitation of private investors.” Remembers protests against growing private shrimp at the end of 80. “We fasted and marched, although we did not have support from our own households.” Unlike neighboring neighborhoods, Karaikal has no large shrimp farms today, thanks to the movement led by the women of that time.
The silence of the “Panchayatars”
In another defining moment, Mrs. Vethavalli stood up for a woman who was facing domestic violence. During the case, the focus has shifted on questioning the legitimacy of female teams in dealing with such matters – some of them considered some challenge for “Panchayatary”. Mrs. Vethavalli came to the meeting “Panchayatar”. “I sat like straight between men. They fell silent. The dispute was resolved immediately. They never saw a woman sit beside them. It wasn’t my courage; it was the power of our movement.” Mrs. Vethavalli has won several awards for its community activism, including recognition from the Social Security Department of the Puducherry Government.
The power of the female movement lies in its graded, interconnected structure, says P. Vanaja, who leads the righteous division of the sex in the sneak. “When we started, we only had a female association at a village level. But by introducing self -help groups (SHG), however, they became our basic organizational unit focused on economic development,” he says. Each SHG chooses representatives to the Coordination Association of Villages, which deals with questions inside the clarification and cultivates leadership. These women are, in turn, co-authorized into the federation of fishermen at the district level, which addresses greater system challenges-domestic violence and discrimination after the threat of government projects and private industries. “Depending on the urgency or extent of the problem, joint campaigns and coordinated events are launched in three districts,” says Mrs. Vanaja.
Director Sneha Jesu Rethinam Christy remembers the difficult beginnings. “In 1984 there were women hiding from us. We had to look for permission of” Panchayatar “to talk to them.” Sneha initially focused on practical needs – access to water, electricity, bank accounts. Over time, her agenda spread to domestic violence and children’s abuse. “Fisherwomen began to perform and discovered their collective power,” he says. Their presence grew from village forums to district platforms. “After the 2004 tsunami, they conducted a reconstruction effort.” Panchayatars began to see them differently. They were not released, they were consulted. “However, it adds a warning remark:” Governments often reduce the strengthening of the position of women on schemes. What we need is a permanent, structured dialogue, not token programs. ”
A. Indranii is a 68 -year -old fisherman and leader of the Federation, coming from Karaikal honey. She says her dream is simple but urgent: to protect her coast. “If the development projects continue to push us, the future of our children will be gone. The sea is our mother. We want our children to live in our villages so that they are not pushed through private greed. We are fighting not only for today but also tomorrow.”
Published – June 7, 2025 9:57
