Dakshin Foundation 181d ago

Across India’s coasts, women play a vital role in marine fisheries. Many support post-harvest work while also repairing and readying nets for the next day’s catch. Alongside this, they manage households, nurture their children, handle finances and the repayment of debts. Despite their indispensable role, their work often goes unrecognised by society and their voices remain absent from coastal governance. Turning the Tide highlights Dakshin Foundation’s Coastal Grassroots Fellowship, an experiential programme that’s designed to help women from small-scale fishing families strengthen their leadership skills, build confidence and become spokespersons for their ecosystems and communities. Through the course of the fellowship, participants have mapped coastal commons, built community databases, documented village histories and initiated dialogues that bridge women, governance and conservation. Turning the Tide captures their stories of learning, collaboration and leadership, and how the fellowship is helping women find recognition, agency and a stronger voice within their communities. Credits: We are grateful to the following fisher people of Palk Bay for their support Antony Michelina Christopher Prabhakar Ebziba Buela Jerald Mary G. Joseph Ananthan Josephine Lucia Mary Initha Prakasi Maria Arockia Pramila Muthulakshmi Pimila Sengol J. Prez Nesiyal Santhy Mary Ruth Sathya Evanjaline Shanmugapriya N. Trial Cathrine Thamaraisinthu Nagoorkannan We thank the officials of the following departments: Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare, Ramanathapuram District District Collector’s Office, Ramanathapuram Department of Social Welfare and Women Empowerment, Govt of Tamil Nadu Dakshin team Aarthi Sridhar Aarthika R Adithya Pillai Muhammed Musthafa Naveen Namboothri Nayana Udayashankar Pavithran M M Shamili Mohanakannan Thisam Mahsana Velumani T Funding support: Environmental Defense Fund Additional support: Rainmatter LGT Venture Philanthropy Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies Filmed and Edited by Rahul Demello Produced by Dakshin Foundation