Ramesh, R.

This article argues that observing process within PRA sessions is facilitated by a set of clear questions for a special observer to record. This leads to opportunities for facilitators to change their behaviour and attitudes and improve the quality of participation. The article also lists some questions that a team can ask about the impact of the participation on people, their power and their actions.

This article reports on a workshop attended by men and women involved in different fishing trades to investigate and analyse their occupational problems and means of ameliorating them. Some of the tools used in the workshop and their results are described, including, listing of the trades in which fishers are involved and ranking of these according to the severity of problems and risks faced by each, seasonality analysis of activities and problems of the various trades and focus group discussions with fisherwomen.

This brief workshop paper stresses the role of attitudes and behaviour of PRA practitioners towards the overall philosophy of PRA. Any change in the behaviour and attitudes of outside professionals practising PRA should be permanent in nature rather than being merely need-based or temporary. Three broad categories of PRA practitioners based on their quality and convictions are identified.