In his role as a Community Resource Person (CRP) for our inclusive fisheries livelihood model, Prakash Oraon is helping to positively change the lives of many socially excluded people in the Palamu district of Jharkhand by helping to train them to become fish farmers.

Prakash – one of our fisheries livelihood model Community Resource Persons

New opportunities for socially excluded groups

At a first glance, 34 year old Prakash appears to be a shy, softly-spoken introvert who would hardly have the oratory skills to convince a small gathering of 10 people how fish farming could transform their lives.

But he is a man with a strong resolve. “As a CRP I identify people from socially excluded communities to convince and train them to become fish farmers,” says Prakash.

Prakash himself is a member of a Scheduled Tribe (ST) and so he understands the kinds of struggles that people from socially excluded communities face in accessing opportunities to learn new skills and diversify their livelihoods.

He is passionate about the opportunity that our inclusive fisheries livelihood model can give to those from socially excluded groups: “Fish farming has impacted the lives of people in a big way. Just to give an example there are several fish farmers who have bought two-wheelers and mobile phones [with their profits],” he says.

A tough decision

In his role as a CRP, Prakash holds awareness-raising programmes and meetings to help people to see how fish farming can become a sustainable livelihood. Bindal is one such fish farmer who he has successfully supported to become a fish farmer. However, Prakash recognises that it is a big decision.

Prakash attends a community meeting with a fish farmer. Prakash attends a meeting with Bindal – one of the fish farmers he supports in his role as Community Resource Person.

Prakash has found that many people do not want to learn technical skills, or are resistant to get involved with the model due to a lack of support from their communities. Coming from a poor economic background himself, he also understands that many feel they cannot take a risk with their income despite the promise of profitability.

However, for those who do decide to become fish farmers (like Bindal), Prakash is then responsible for supporting them. He provides technical advice and support such as teaching them how to stock fish seed in water bodies, maintain fish health and hygiene, and profitability advice.

In order to impart training to others, all CRPs have to undergo specialised trainings at various institutions. For Prakash this included a course at the Central Institute of Fresh Water Aquaculture (CIFA), a state level training of trainers in Ranchi and a five-day exposure visit to an existing fish farming project in Madhubani in Bihar.

“After exposure at CIFA, my confidence level increased manifold,” says Prakash. “Now, I address a gathering of 50 odd people in villages on regular basis.”

Using GIS technology

A major component of the model involves training CRPs to use a specially designed Android mobile application to conduct two kinds of survey – Water Body Surveys and Household Surveys.

Prakash is responsible for looking after around 36 water bodies. “In a water body survey we fill in the details of the water body like its GPS location, ownership, usage, shape, area, depth, volume and water source,” Prakash explains. “In the household survey we complete the data of the individual fish farmer and his family.”

The Android mobile application for measuring water bodies. The Android mobile application for monitoring water bodies.

The data is later processed by WASSAN – our implementing partner – and results-based advice is sent back to the CRP. “This way we can plan how to do better fish farming for a particular waterbody and a household,” Prakash says.

Job satisfaction

Prakash is very content with the work he is doing. He enjoys helping others from socially excluded groups to rise above what is expected of them, and to keep pace with the advancements in fish farming techniques.

“For me the greatest accomplishment is to see that people around me are happier than ever,” he says smiling. “This gives me complete satisfaction to continue with the job with greater energy and enthusiasm.”