SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROBLEMS OF JAT AND FISHERMAN COMMUNITIES OF DISTRICT THATTA

Abstract

Jat and Fishermen, the main communities of Indus Delta are mostly settled in District Thatta, Sindh. Fishing and camel keeping are their main source of income. There are three main favorable factors which enabled them to settle on the creeks and on the coast
close to the mouths of Indus River. The flow of sea waters, tidal ebbs, and monsoon rains give rise to the mangrove growth in the area. This provides food and fodder for camels and fuel for the settlers. Secondly, numerous tidal creeks provide to the
communities shelter along with their boats. Fishermen also use creeks as passage between the coast and the open sea. This helps to cut mangroves for fuel and find food and fodder. There are three permanent settlements and several hundred fishing villages
in the area. The huts, houses and masjids are built from local resources. Mat, mud, ropes and wooden sticks are used for the purpose of building. The communities face serious social problem like poverty, unemployment, shortage of clean drinking water, decrease in livestock, illiteracy, health and their fishing related problem. This study attempts to highlight the living pattern and socio-economic problems, of the Jat and Fishermen communities.