Mumbai, Feb 13: Facing stiff competition from their north Indian rivals, more than 25,000 fisherwomen in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and neighbouring Thane district are going tech savvy by acquiring mobile phones to be in constant touch with traders and consumers. Mahila Koli Sangharsh Samiti vice-president Satish Mahajan said that in each of the markets where 60-70 fisherwomen sell the daily catch of their families, around 20 of them possess mobile phones.
''We are encouraging the womenfolk to purchase cell phones,'' Mahajan said and added that besides this, they are planning to install landlines at each of these markets where orders could be placed by public.
These phones will be manned during the time when the market operates. ''Anyone who wants to buy fish, can get the rates and then place orders,'' he said and added that the sons of these fisherwomen will act as delivery boys and the fish of desired type and quantity can be delivered right at the doorstep of the consumer.
Besides this, Mahajan said for each market they are preparing a directory of the fisherwomen. ''Once this is in place, one can directly talk to a fisherwomen and get the fish,'' he said.
Mahajan said they are closely working with the police and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to execute these ideas. Bureau Report