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Rights, Inclusion & Social Empowerment for Fisherwomen (RISE)
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Blossom’s RISE Network is a targeted, community-based initiative dedicated to reducing social and economic exclusion among vulnerable fisherwomen and their families in the Mandapam Block of Ramanathapuram District. The programme places special emphasis on raising deep awareness of socio-economic rights, addressing climate and economic vulnerabilities, and facilitating direct access to vital government social protection schemes.
Currently, the RISE Network operates across 36 fishing villages in 10 Panchayats, supporting a target geography of 3,548 fisher households comprising approximately 6,847 fisherwomen. The initiative focuses on building community-led advocacy networks and ensuring that no marginalized household is left behind by combining structured village encampments with continuous, daily door-to-door outreach.
Background
In the Mandapam Block of Ramanathapuram District (Tamil Nadu), 3,548 fisher households (comprising approximately 6,847 fisherwomen) rely on small-scale fisheries. These families frequently face:
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Economic insecurity and climate vulnerability.
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Unique occupational health hazards (such as skin and reproductive health issues).
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Exclusion from vital government social protection schemes.
Key Milestones & Impact
1. 100% Geographic Mapping
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Action: A comprehensive 3-month household survey across 36 fishing villages (10 Panchayats).
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Result: 3,548 households (approx. 14,192 people) mapped to identify exact gaps in their government benefits.
2. Direct Enrollment in Social Protection
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Action: Organizing 30 village-level entitlement camps alongside daily door-to-door outreach by Field Coordinators.
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Result: 2,920 individuals successfully registered for eligible government schemes such as health insurance, ration cards, PAN, and more.
3. Community Awareness & Education
- Action: Conducting 20 Panchayat-level meetings and 20 creative auto-rickshaw campaigns in partnership with EduClowns.
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Result: 1,200+ fisherwomen educated on citizen rights, labour laws, and occupational health safety.
4. Fostering Female Leadership
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Action: Organizing 22 monthly capacity-building sessions to establish dedicated fisherwomen groups.
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Result: 1,000+ fisherwomen mobilized into an independent collective (The Women Rise Network) to advocate for their rights in an area where women-only associations did not previously exist.
5. Stronger Institutional Support
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Action: Convening 8 high-level stakeholder meetings with banks, insurance providers, legal authorities, and the Social Welfare Department.
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Result: Over 160 public and private stakeholders engaged to bridge service gaps and improve government responsiveness to fishing communities.
