Mainstreaming Climate Resilience and Social Security in Small-Scale Fisheries Governance

Furthermore, the movement highlights a critical gender gap in the fisheries policy architecture. Despite women performing the bulk of post-harvest activities—including processing, marketing, and net mending—their labour remains largely informal and invisible in national data and social security net provisions. The demand for the formal recognition of 'fisherwomen' as professional contributors is not merely a call for equity but a strategic necessity to ensure universal coverage of social security benefits, such as healthcare, insurance, and post-disaster compensation. By advocating for greater representation in policy-making bodies, these communities are calling for a shift toward 'bottom-up' governance that aligns with the sustainable development goals of inclusive growth and coastal protection. For policymakers, the Kerala model serves as a microcosm of the broader challenges facing India’s blue economy. Effective implementation of NPOA-SSF requires a cross-sectoral approach that synchronizes disaster management, labour welfare, and environmental conservation, ensuring that the most vulnerable stakeholders are shielded from the volatility of a changing climate. UPSC Relevance: This issue is highly relevant for GS Paper III (Disaster Management/Environment) and GS Paper I (Role of women). Aspirants can utilize this case study in answers regarding the socio-economic impact of climate change on vulnerable coastal populations, the need for gender-responsive policy frameworks, and the efficacy of grassroots pressure groups in influencing national development agendas.