Producer control over fish marketing and inputs (basically to liberate fishermen from the clutches of middlemen, merchants and money lenders
Legal Entity
SIFFS was registered as the apex body of a three-tier co-operative structure in 1980, under the Travancore Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Act of 1955. Primary societies and district federations form the two tiers of the organisation.
In terms of legal status primary societies fall in two categories. While the first few primary societies including Marianad were registered as co-operatives, societies constituted after 1976 were registered under the Societies Registration Act due to certain legal hurdles.
Presently, SIFFS has over 100 primary societies at the village level. These societies are affiliated to the District Federations, which are in turn the members - Full or Associate - of SIFFS. Full members are the primary members of SIFFS, with membership granted to the federations fulfilling certain basic criteria. Associate members include federations that do not yet comply with the stipulations for full membership. They also include other organisations that are not district federations but are associated with the programmes of SIFFS.
Legal Entity
SIFFS has different sets of activities at each of the three levels in the tier.
Primary Soceities
Fish Marketing
Provision of credit for asset replacement from external sources (banks) and from own sources (accumulated profits at the primary level)
Promotion of savings
Insurance for members (under govt. schemes)
Other welfare activities
District Federations
Monitoring and support services to primary societies
Liaison with regional offices of banks for credit
Liaison with Funding Agencies for developmental support
Marketing support to societies
Marketing support to societies
Marketing of fishing inputs
Welfare schemes
SIFFS
Technology Development and Dissemination
Boat Building and repair services
Import and distribution of outboard motors and repair services
Credit Program for members
Extension of Primary Societies Network
Marketing of fish and fish products
Running of Ice plants for ice supply
Albezzia Plantations for Kattumaram timber supply
Studies, Research, Documentation and Publication
Advocacy and Lobbying
Support to fisherwomens groups
Governance
SIFFS is a democratically managed society of fish workers. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman are necessarily fishermen elected from the primary- and district-level organisations, according to the charter of SIFFS.
The paramount policy making body of SIFFS is the General Body, which consists of six representatives from every full member federation and one representative from an associate member federation. The body meets twice a year.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors, consisting of elected fishermen in the majority, is responsible for the management of the organisation. The Board consists of two representatives from each full member federation. Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive of SIFFS as well as the Chief Executives of full members are ex-officio members of the Board. The Board meets about once a month, and presently consists of FOURTEEN MEMBERS