A gritty tribal woman of a small hamlet in Kusumanchi mandal has earned a niche for herself in fishing, considered a traditional male bastion.
Thirty-year-old Badavath Bullemma of Yerragadda tanda, situated about 5 km away from Palair balancing reservoir, took to fishing a couple of years ago, to support her two children, aged parents and a younger brother.
Bullemma’s passion for swimming and her father’s immobility due to an accident several years ago drove her to take up fishing as a profession.
She took up full-fledged fishing activity after her husband allegedly left her to fend for herself. Since then, she has been working hard to feed her poor family. “Although several women in our tanda are engaged in selling fish and have made a mark for themselves in marketing domain, my daughter is, perhaps, one among a very few women who have taken up fishing as a profession,” says Mangya, Bullemma’s father.
She toils hard everyday to earn a square meal for our family and carve out a bright future for her two children. She will emerge a role model for poor women by following the path of financial self-reliance if given proper support by the government departments, he opines.
“I have learnt the rudiments of fishing from my father, who used to take me to the Palair reservoir for fishing during my childhood,” recalls Bullemma.
“I am using the fishing tools, including the old net of my father, for fishing. I need a new set of tools to see improved fish yield and secure sustainable income,” she adds.
The department will extend all possible support to Bullemma to encourage her excel in fishing, says V. Srinivas, Assistant Director, Fisheries Department, Khammam. A fishing net and small craft worth Rs. 10,000 will be provided to her in a few days, he asserts.
