Forest dept. project boosts income of Idukki dam’s tribal fishers

Malsyaranyakam, an initiative launched by Forest department officials in the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary in 2019, is now providing a steady income for the Oorali tribespeople who fish in the Idukki reservoir. The tribespeople are descendants of Chemban Karuvellayan Kolumban, who played a key role in the realisation of the Idukki dam.

M.G. Vinod Kumar, a former range officer of the sanctuary and the present Flying Squad Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) in Idukki, said the tribespeople used to fish from the reservoir and sell it to middlemen cheaply. “With the guidance of the Forest department, we started a 12-member Kolumban Unnathi Fishermen Subgroup and opened a stall at Vellapara. The move transformed the lives of tribespeople in the settlement,” said Mr. Kumar.

The Malsyaranyakam fish stall at Vellappara, near Cheruthoni, in Idukki.
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

“Actor Mammootty’s Care and Share Foundation handed over free fishing nets and life jackets to the tribespeople under the project. It was initiated following the success of Chilla, a weekly open market launched by the Marayur Sandal Forest Division in 2014 to ensure fair prices for organically grown farm produce in the tribal settlements,” he said.

Siji T., a tribal member who manages the Malsyaranyakam stall, said: “The fishers mainly catch Katla, Rohu, Tilapia, and Grass carp from the dam. Now, ₹250 to ₹300 is fixed as the price per kg of the fish, and 90% of the money is deposited in the fishers’ accounts. The rest is used to pay staff’s salaries and purchase equipment. In addition, a ban on fishing is imposed for 45 days from June 1 during the fish breeding season,” she said. In the past six years, the fishers have caught over 30,000 kg of fish categorised as invasive species by the authorities.

Cafe planned

Idukki Wildlife Warden G. Jayachandran said the tribespeople who fish in the dam played a pivotal role in the protection of the sanctuary. “They provide timely alerts on forest fires and illegal entry to the sanctuary. The Forest department will soon begin a cafe at Vellappara, near Cheruthoni, to provide dishes made of fish from the Idukki dam,” said Mr. Jayachandran.

The Malsyaranyakam fish stall at Vellappara, near Cheruthoni, in Idukki
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

According to officials, the project has earned more than ₹80 lakh in the past six years. “Orders for fish are accepted through a WhatsApp group. The group members open the stall around 9.30 a.m., and within minutes, the fish is sold out,” said Mr. Jayachandran.