After forging ties with ISRO for a rescue-beacon satellite eye on fish-shoals, fishermen in Kerala never had technology giving them a happier helping hand as now. Move over, men – since it is the turn of the women in fish business to get a free-wheeling deal or two.

Women in fish retailing are to get self-driven Maruti Omnis, thanks to a dip from the State’s Rs 1,441-crore tsunami rehabilation kitty. Matsyafed, the state’s apex body of fisheries co-operatives has readied 300 8-seater Maruti Omnis for delivery to women fish vendors.

“Each Omni is given as working gear for a group of six women fish vendors. Two of them will be given training to qualify for driving license,” says Matsyafed managing director Vijayakumar.

About 1800 women in fish retail business are get direct benefit of this amenity in the first phase. “End-consumer would be the happiest as the supply-chain is shortened,” says Florence Marathakam, an aspiring beneficiary, predicting a win-win deal. One may recall that a recent Harvard University study (Robert Jensen ( August 2007): Quarterly Journal of Economics) had found out that advent of mobile telephony had helped Kerala fishermen jack up their margins by 8%, with the retail-fish consumer prices falling by 4% .

Kerala government has been told to complete utilisation of Centre’s rehabitilation package for tsunami victims by September 2009. This includes supply of fishing gear, drinking water, housing, roads and sea-walls for coastal population.

“There is about 5% beneficiary share,” S Sarma, State Fisheries Minister told FE. As much as 80% from tsunami assistance. The group ( of six women) is to pay back 15% in three years.

State government had earlier announced plans for a tie-up with ISRO, involving state-of-the-art communication centres for fishing communities. This would involve a rescue beacon and information access on potential fishing zones through satellite tracking of shoals of fish. Through its 222 marine villages, Kerala accounts for 6.4 lakh tonnes out of India’s total fish production of 6.3 million tonnes. Although a star player in country’s marine sector, it is the first time that the woman in fishing supply chain found herself caught – however, marginally – in the net of Centre bounty for the sector.