Lok Sabha Question No. 3001 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Indian Fishermen in Jails
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: DEVUSINH JESINGBHAI CHAUHAN, M. CHANDRAKASI, OM BIRLA, FEROZE VARUN GANDHI, BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3001 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2018

## INDIAN FISHERMEN IN JAILS

## 3001.  SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN:

SHRI M. CHANDRAKASI:

SHRI OM BIRLA:

SHRI FEROZE VARUN GANDHI:

SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of Indian fishermen who were imprisoned/attacked by security forces of various countries, country-wise including their boats detained during the last three years including the Indian States to which they belong;
- (b) the   number   of   Indian   fishermen   released   along   with   their   boats   after completing their sentences in these countries during the last three years;
- (c) the   details   of   steps   taken   by   the   Government   to   secure   the   release   of imprisoned fishermen and to minimize these kind of instances and to make Indian fishermen stay in Indian waters; and
- (d) whether   any   discussions   were   held   in   this   regard   with   the   respective Governments   and   if   so,   the   details   thereof   and   the   outcome   of   the discussions?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [SHRI M.J. AKBAR]

- (a) & (b) As per information available with the Ministry, the country-wise details of fishermen imprisoned/ attacked by security forces of various countries, including their boats detained, States to which they belong  and  the number of fishermen released along with their boats after completing their sentences  are given in the Annexure.
- (c) & (d) The Government attaches the highest priority to the safety, security and welfare of Indian fishermen. Our Missions and Posts regularly seek consular access to Indian fishermen detained in foreign countries, ensure their welfare and also pursue their early release and repatriation, along with their boats. Given the humanitarian and livelihood dimensions of this issue, the Government has put in place   several   bilateral   mechanisms   to   ensure   cooperation   and   understanding between India and the countries concerned, to promote the safety and security of Indian fishermen.

Due to geographical reasons, most of our fishermen land into problems with neighbouring countries.

In   case   of   Pakistan,   we   have   a   bilateral   Agreement   on   Consular   Access, signed in May 2008. The India-Pakistan Joint Judicial Committee, consisting of retired judges of superior judiciary from the two countries, visit jails in both countries to ensure humane treatment and expeditious release of prisoners, including fishermen on both sides, who have completed their prison terms.

In   the   case   of   Sri   Lanka,   our   Mission   works   closely   with   the   Sri   Lankan Ministry of Defence, the Attorney General's Office and the law enforcement agencies concerned, to secure the release and repatriation of our fishermen. There is a Joint Working Group on Fisheries and a Joint Committee on Fisheries, which take up fishermen's issues for resolution on basis of the bilateral Understanding on Practical Arrangements  of   October   2008.   In   addition,   talks   are   held   from   time   to   time between representatives of the Fishermen's Associations in India and Sri Lanka. Besides, it was also agreed between both the sides that there will be meeting at ministerial level every six months co-chaired by Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare,   Government   of   India   and   Minister   of   Fisheries   and   Aquatic   Resources Development, Government of Sri Lanka in order to find out a permanent solution to the India-Sri Lanka fishermen problem.   So far the JWG had met thrice and two ministerial meetings in this regard have been held.  The last (3 rd ) meeting of the JWG was held on 13 October 2017 in New Delhi followed by the Ministerial meeting held on 14 October 2017 in New Delhi.

In the case of Bangladesh, on receipt of information of the arrest of Indian fishermen, Mission contacts the concerned District Magistrates in India to ascertain their Indian nationality and thereafter pursue with the Bangladesh authorities for their release. For this, Mission seeks consular access from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and contacts local NGOs for their welfare during their imprisonment in Bangladesh.

Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is implementing Centrally Sponsored Schemes, including for development of inland fisheries, aquaculture, marine fisheries that are implemented through the State Governments. These are, inter alia, aimed at promoting livelihood for Indian fishermen in a safe, secure and sustainable environment within India. *****

ANNEXURE

## Statement showing year-wise and country-wise apprehension of Indian fishermen and their release

| Bangladesh            | Bangladesh                             | Bangladesh            | Bangladesh    | Bangladesh                       | Bangladesh            |
|-----------------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------------|---------------|----------------------------------|-----------------------|
| Year                  | No. of fishermen imprisoned / attacked | No. of boats detained | Domicile-wise | No. of Indian fishermen released | No. of boats released |
| 2015                  | 340                                    | 27                    | West Bengal   | 217                              | 19                    |
| 2016                  | 10                                     | 1                     | West Bengal   | 191                              | 15                    |
| 2017                  | NIL                                    | NIL                   | NIL           | NIL                              | NIL                   |
| 2018 (as of 09.03.18) | NIL                                    | NIL                   | NIL           | NIL                              | NIL                   |

| Iran                  | Iran                                   | Iran                  | Iran                      | Iran                             | Iran                  |
|-----------------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------------|---------------------------|----------------------------------|-----------------------|
| Year                  | No. of fishermen imprisoned / attacked | No. of boats detained | Domicile-wise             | No. of Indian fishermen released | No. of boats released |
| 2015                  | 49                                     | NA                    | Tamil Nadu Kerala         | Nil                              | NA                    |
| 2016                  | 109                                    | Nil                   | Tamil Nadu Kerala Gujarat | 87                               | NA                    |
| 2017                  | 84                                     | Nil                   | NA                        | 107                              | NA                    |
| 2018 (as of 09.03.18) | 10                                     | Nil                   | Tamil Nadu Gujarat        | 15                               | NA                    |

| Pakistan   | Pakistan                               | Pakistan              | Pakistan      | Pakistan                         | Pakistan              |
|------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------------|---------------|----------------------------------|-----------------------|
| Year       | No. of fishermen imprisoned / attacked | No. of boats detained | Domicile-wise | No. of Indian fishermen released | No. of boats released |
| 2015       | 366                                    | NA                    | NA            | NA                               | NA                    |
| 2016       | 260                                    | NA                    | NA            | NA                               | NA                    |
| 2017       | 494                                    | NA                    | NA            | NA                               | NA                    |

| 2018(as of 09.03.18)   | 253   | NA   | Gujarat - 154 Uttar Pradesh - 18 Daman &Diu - 5 West Bengal - 4 Andhra Pradesh - 1 Others - 71   | NA   | NA   |
|------------------------|-------|------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------|------|

| Qatar                 | Qatar                                  | Qatar                 | Qatar         | Qatar                            | Qatar                 |
|-----------------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------------|---------------|----------------------------------|-----------------------|
| Year                  | No. of fishermen imprisoned / attacked | No. of boats detained | Domicile-wise | No. of Indian fishermen released | No. of boats released |
| 2015                  | 39                                     | NA                    | Tamil Nadu    | 39                               | NA                    |
| 2016                  | 30                                     | NA                    | Tamil Nadu    | 30                               | NA                    |
| 2017                  | 29                                     | NA                    | Tamil Nadu    | 29                               | NA                    |
| 2018 (as of 09.03.18) | 10                                     | NA                    | Tamil Nadu    | 10                               | NA                    |

| Sri Lanka             | Sri Lanka                              | Sri Lanka             | Sri Lanka     | Sri Lanka                        | Sri Lanka             |
|-----------------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------------|---------------|----------------------------------|-----------------------|
| Year                  | No. of fishermen imprisoned / attacked | No. of boats detained | Domicile-wise | No. of Indian fishermen released | No. of boats released |
| 2015                  | 454                                    | 71                    | NA            | 375                              | 87 (of 2014)          |
| 2016                  | 290                                    | NA                    | NA            | 333                              | NA                    |
| 2017                  | NA                                     | NA                    | NA            | NA                               | NA                    |
| 2018 (as of 09.03.18) | NA                                     | NA                    | NA            | NA                               | NA                    |

| United Kingdom       | United Kingdom                         | United Kingdom        | United Kingdom   | United Kingdom                   | United Kingdom        |
|----------------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------------|------------------|----------------------------------|-----------------------|
| Year                 | No. of fishermen imprisoned / attacked | No. of boats detained | Domicile-wise    | No. of Indian fishermen released | No. of boats released |
| 2015                 | 23                                     | NA                    | NA               | 23                               | NA                    |
| 2016                 | 19                                     | NA                    | NA               | 19                               | NA                    |
| 2017                 | NA                                     | NA                    | NA               | NA                               | NA                    |
| 2018 (as of 9.03.18) | NA                                     | NA                    | NA               | NA                               | NA                    |

*****