Best practices in microfinance programmes in Konkan: Coastal fishing communities: A case study of Goa and Maharashtra

In most societies, as in India, small scale fishing and fish farming households are considered to be one of the most underprivileged and vulnerable groups. Micro finance programmes are seen as a means for these households to gain access to much needed credit services that are appropriate for their needs. Since women comprises of a significant proportion of such households, microfinance should serve as an effective tool to assist and empower women in fishing communities. This paper tries to analyze recent experiences with micro finance programmes in support of the coastal konkan fishing communities in India and draw conclusions with regard to best practices in this field.