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Women's Health and Security in Shrimp Cultivation and Processing Plants in Coastal Bangladesh

Md. Rezaul Karim*
Urban and Rural Planning Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh

Rakib Hossain
Urban and Regional Planner, House # 49, Road# 7, Apt.# 3F, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh

Mahmud-uz-Zaman
Urban and Rural Planning Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The lives of people in the coastal areas have been adversely affected both economically and socially by the shrimp culture which is also creating serious ecological threat to the environment. The discontent and sufferings are now increasing and needs to be critically addressed. The women associated with the shrimp culture process are of socially, economically and physically disadvantaged group. The issues of social and human rights violation in the shrimp industry is really a matter of great disquiet that concerns the women involved in shrimp cultivation. The health and insecurity of women has increased through the occurrences of kidnapping, rape, wage discrimination and other forms of female harassments. Various types of health risks are prevalent among women involved with the shrimp sector who do not have other viable employment alternatives. Women working in the shrimp industry and fry collection from the coast are target group of this study. It is necessary to develop a holistic and integrated approach addressing the socioeconomic affairs, health and security issues of women for sustainable management of shrimp farming in the country. This paper endeavors to accommodate the existing scenario of women’s health and security concern in shrimp cultivation in southwestern Bangladesh.

Keywords: Shrimp farms, Shrimp processing plants, Coastal areas of Bangladesh, Women’ health and security

Location: In Coastal Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Health hazard, Shrimp, Female

Objectives:

In shrimp processing plants workers especially women are subject to discriminate by their superior supervisors in multi-faceted ways. Less payment to the female workers is very much common in these plants and thus trigger economic instability persists among these families. Majority of the women employer do not have any legal contract with the shrimp processing plant authority. So the authority can take any decision, which can goes against the workers legal labour rights (No regular leave, lack of proper maternity leave, risk of loosing job after maternity leave, risk of loosing job with any kind of activity against shrimp processing plant authority etc). This study has explored the health and security concerns of women involved in the shrimp cultivation and working in the shrimp processing plants.

Methodology:

Forty five households where women are working in shrimp industry from three villages e.g., Burigoalini, Soldana and Botbunia located in polders 5, 23 and 31 in the Satkhira, Khulna and Bagerhat Districts were taken for a questionnaire survey. Focus Group Discussions (FGD) has also been conducted over the entire data collection period. The targeted women, observation of the shrimp culture activities and related secondary data were considered for this study. A number of case studies and interview of experts regarding the health risks particularly for the women those are involved in the shrimp cultivation were also consulted to realize the problem as well.

Source of Information: Khulna University Studies Special Issue (SESB 2010): 83-88: June, 2010

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Conclusion Food and shelter are the two constitutional rights of the people and it is the state that is to take care of the citizens’ fundamental rights. However, in reality, due to the poor economic condition of the country, corruption, lack of willingness of the responsible parties and many other reasons worsened the situation. In order to live, the poor women are going for shrimp fry collection even in the deep Sundarbans with so many insecurities and are working in the shrimp industries and shrimp processing plants being economically and socially discriminated. They are still working in the culture with so many health and life risks because they have no options. This is best reflected in the word of a woman in the study area “give me an alternative income source and I will never go to the Sundarbans for fry collection…” The existing institutional support and services are very minimal to cater the needs and aspirations of the poor women of the southwest costal belt of Bangladesh. It is worth to mention here that some NGOs have undertaken special plans and programs for addressing the problems of the women involved with shrimp culture. The government, NGOs, civil societies and local bodies are addressing the problems of women in the shrimp farming with less priority both in the local and national level. Improving law and order, providing adequate health services, building community ownership and awareness, creating alternative income generating activities and last but not the least, ensuring participation of the victims in any intervention is urgently necessary for solving insecurity of the women in the country.

Knowledge Management: Journal