inspired by the success of informal banking schemes in rural Bangladesh, Kerala's department of fisheries initiated similar programmes of assistance, three years back. These schemes, which can be accessed only by fisherwomen, are primarily meant to assist them financially.

The main state-level body heading the schemes is the Vanitha Fisheries Apex Bank ( vfab ) which has the director of fisheries as its chairperson and the joint director of fisheries for the south zone as its managing director. A number of district level Vanitha Fisheries Banks ( vfb s) shall function as units under the vfab . The vfab , registered in 1994, functions as a nodal agency that channels funds obtained from various development agencies including the Smallscale Industries Development Bank of India ( sidbi ), as well as other banks. It also functions as a think-tank for the fisherfolk of the state, as it is involved in the formulation of useful schemes and comes up with new ideas to help the community out.

In the period 1993-94, two district units started functioning. These units, which were located at Poonthura in Thiruvananthapuram and at Neendakara in Kollam, were registered as units under the Charitable Societies Act. During the following year, four more district units at Mohamma in Allapuzha, Chettuva in Thrissur, Vaikkom in Kottayam and Kuriyappa in Kozhikode, started functioning. The remaining districts of the state shall have their vfb units operating during the coming year.

It is estimated that about 50,000 women in the state are engaged in fisheries and related activities like the processing and marketing of fish. These fisherwomen