POVERTY PARADIGMS AMONG TRADITIONAL HINDU FISHERFOLK AND FLOWS OF MULTIPLE CAPITALS AS COPING STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABILITY: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

Bangladesh is a lower middle-income country, where traditional fishermen, called Jaladas are at extreme risk of long-lasting poverty. Two Jaladas villages were chosen as study locations to identify the roles of different actors in capital penetration and its relationship with poverty dynamics, including socio-economic transformations. This study adopted a qualitative method, specifically Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and also surveyed 100 households selected through random sampling. The study found that NGO-led activities increased awareness, education, leadership development, health and sanitation facilities, legal services, and alternative employment skills to improve the quality of life in one fishing village. However, in the same village, social bondage and kinship, as well as the visibility of traditional institutions become dysfunctional due to the misuse of diversified capitals. Commercial entrepreneurs, who are mostly profit centric, over-exploit fisheries, and adversely affect the sustainable livelihoods of Jaladas. Furthermore, powerful market functionaries establish strong control in the fish marketing structure. Based on capital management and inherent characteristics, Jaladas cope with changes through collective and individual initiatives. This study urges the state and global donor organisations to pay attention to the political and socio-economic empowerment of Jaladas to ensure their well-being.