Lok Sabha Question No. 3347 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-01
Subject: Safety and Employment of Fishermen
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Rajendra Dhedya Gavit, Richard Hay

## MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, DAIRYING & FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No.3347 TO BE ANSWERED ON 1 ST  JANUARY, 2019

## SAFETY AND EMPLOYMENT OF FISHERMEN

## 3347. SHRI RAJENDRA D. GAVIT :

## PROF.RICHARD HAY:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTUREAND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether in view of the fact that Ockhi cyclone devastated the lives of hundreds of fishermen in Kerala and Tamil Nadu are the States prepared to meet such natural calamities in future;
- (b) if  so,  the  measures  taken  by  the  respective  States  to  deal  with  such  gargantuan  natural calamities;
- (c) whether  the  respective  States  submitted  any  report  about  the  number  of  actual  dead  and fishermen still missing, if so, the number of dead and still missing according to the figures given by them;
- (d) the measures taken by the respective Governments to safeguard the lives of fishermen living near the coastal villages and who venture into the high seas, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  marine  ambulances,  life  jackets  and  communication  gadgets  and  other  safety materials were provided to fishermen in the country to safeguard their lives;
- (f) whether there is any proposal of the Union Government to set up a marine safety squad who could ensure safety and security of the fishermen in the country; and
- (g) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  concrete  steps  and/or  formulated  any  schemes  for enhancing  the  employment  opportunities  of  fishermen  and  their  families  as  well  as  for economic development in the ocean sector by starting MSMEs for producing value added products in the fisheries sector?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE& FARMER's WELFARE:

(SMT. KRISHNA RAJ)

(a) & (b) Yes Madam. As per the details furnished by the Government of Tamil Nadu, the State has established central  control  room at  State  and  District  levels  to  communicate  weather  warning messages received from Regional Meteorological centre and other agencies to alert deep sea fishing boats;  established  facilities  to  communicate  weather  warning  alerts  through  Indian  Coast  Guard, Indian  Navy  etc;  supplied  various  vessel  communication  equipments  to  deep  sea  fishing  boats; provided  wireless  communication  equipment  (VHF  sets)  to  15,004  motorized  crafts  and  2,535 mechanised fishing boats for the benefit of seagoing fishermen; set up  18 communication towers along the states coast and are functioning effectively.

As per details received from Government of Kerala, a communication equipment 'Navic' has been developed with the technical support of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for communicating weather warning to fishermen upto 1500 Km; developed mobile application named 'Sagara' for registration  of details of fishermen at the time of entry and exit of sea;  established a state  level  master  control  room  and  three  sub  control  units  at  three  zones  to  disseminate  weather warnings  and  to  coordinate  joint  rescue  operations  with  the  help  of  Indian  Navy,  Indian  Coast Guard, Coastal Police and Marine Enforcement Wing of Department of Fisheries.

(c) Government of Tamil Nadu reported that 27 fishermen died  and 177 went missing in Tamil Nadu, whereas, Government of Kerala reported that 51 fishermen died and 92 fishermen are still missing in Kerala due to Ockhi cyclone.

(d) &  (e)  Government  of  Tamil  Nadu  reported  that  besides  the  details  stated  at  (a)  and  (b) sanctioned Rs. 3.10 crore for procurement and supply of vessel communication equipments to 80 cluster of boats engaged in deep sea fishing and agencies engaged in disaster management measures; proposed to provide satellite phones, 'Navic' message receiver and NAVTEX to deep sea fishing boats;  supplied  1600  numbers  of  Distress  Alert  Transmitters  (DATs) to  mechanized  fishing  boats and  motorized  country  crafts;  installed  433  transponders  in  mechanized  fishing  boats;  distributed 49,500 life buoy to fisher men of  traditional country craft to safeguard life during fishing.

Government of Kerala reported that besides the details stated at (a) and (b) distributed 40,000 life jackets to sea going fishermen; proposed for rehabilitation of fisher folk families from 50 m high tide line to safer locations by giving special assistance for purchase of land and house.

(f)  Government of Kerala reported that State has set up 60 sea rescue squad unit in all maritime districts in which fishermen are also included.

(g)  Yes  Madam.  The    Department  of  Animal  Husbandry,  Dairying  and  Fisheries  (DADF)  is implementing an umbrella Scheme called 'Blue Revolution' through which financial assistance is provided  to  the  States/  UTs  for  livelihood  and  employment  opportunities  of  fishermen  by undertaking  various  production  oriented  fisheries  activities  including  value  addition  to  fishes, capacity building and welfare measures like construction of houses for fishers and creation of other basic amenities such as drinking water facility & community halls, insurance coverage for fishers is also  provided  under  the  scheme.  As  a  part  of  socio  economic  development  of  fishermen, Government  of  Tamil  Nadu  has  reported  that  assistance  were  provided  for  undertaking  income generating  fisheries  related  activities  such  as  processing  units  for  production  of  value  added  fish products,  setting  up  of  modern  fish  kiosks  in  coastal  districts  operated  by  members  of  women cooperative societies, sea weed culture and value addition, solar lantern fabrication and servicing, and production of sea shell ornaments.

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