Lok Sabha Question No. 1531 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-07
Subject: Traditional Fisherfolk in Kerala
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: N.K. Premachandran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1531 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7 TH   DECEMBER, 2021

## Traditional Fisherfolk in Kerala

## 1531.  SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

Will  the  Minister  of  FISHERIES,  ANIMAL  HUSBANDRY  AND  DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन ,

## पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to protect the traditional fisherfolk for their livelihood, if so, the details of action taken there on;
- (b) whether the Government has conducted study regarding the difficulties of traditional fisherfolk in the State of Kerala, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  facilities  and  subsidies  given  by  Union  Government  for  the  traditional  fisherfolk  using outboard motor for fishing;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to restore supply of kerosene in subsidized rate for fisherfolk, if so, the details of action taken thereon;
- (e) whether it has come to the notice of the Government that about 30700 outboard motors being used by traditional fisherfolk in Kerala use Kerosene as fuel;
- (f) if so, the action taken for restoring the supply of Kerosene;
- (g) whether the Government proposes to supply sufficient quantity of Kerosene in subsidized rate for ensuring livelihood of traditional fisherfolk; and
- (h) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## ( SHRIPARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a) :  The  Department  of  Fisheries,  Ministry  of  Fisheries,  Animal  Husbandry  and  Dairying  is implementing a flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Matsya SampadaYojana (PMMSY) with highest ever investment of Rs. 20,050 crore  for a period of five years with effect from the financial year 2020-21 to 2024-25 in all States/Union Territories(UTs) including Kerala. Protection of traditional fisherfolk for their livelihood is core of PMMSY. PMMSY inter-alia provides support for providing boats and nets for  traditional  fishermen,  livelihood  and  nutritional  support  for  traditional  fishers'  families  during fishing  ban/lean  period,  support  for  communication/tracking  devices  for  traditional  and  motorized vessels, providing of Potential Fishing Zone(PFZ) devices, providing safety kits, insurance to fishers, support  for  acquisition  of  deep  sea  fishing  vessels  for  traditional  fishermen,  support  for  alternative livelihood activities like seaweed culture & bivalve culture, ornamental fish rearing unit, pen culture, training,  skill  development,  skill  up-gradation  and  capacity  building,  for  procurement  of  transport vehicles  like  motor  cycle  with  ice  box,  cycle  with  ice  box,  three  wheeler  with  ice  box,  fish  retail markets and  fish kiosk.

Besides, the PMMSY also focuses on creation of safe landing, berthing and post harvest handling facilities in the form of fishing harbours/fish landing centres. During FY 2020-21 under PMMSY the Department of Fisheries, Government of India has accorded approval to the fisheries development proposal of Government of Kerala at a total cost of Rs.113.67 crore with central share of Rs.42.32 crore. Besides, during 2021-22 central funds of Rs.26.89 crore has been released to Government of Kerala to provide livelihood and nutritional support during fishing ban/lean period to 1,79,316 traditional fishers in the State.

(b): The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of  Fisheries,  Animal  Husbandry  and  Dairying  has  not conducted such study.

(c): Based  on  request  of  the  Government  of  Kerala  a  total  120  units  of  Fibre  Reinforced  Plastic (FRP)  boats  were  supplied  during  2017-18  to  Ockhi  affected  fishermen  and  200  units  of  FRP  boats were supplied during 2018-19 to traditional fishermen at a total investment of Rs.1388 lakh sanctioned under the erstwhile Blue Revolution Scheme implemented by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India. PMMSY also provides support for boats fitted with OBM and nets to traditional fishermen.

(d) to (h): The Government of Kerala has reported that a total of 32,538 craft fitted with outboard motors are using kerosene as a fuel.  The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG) has reported that allocation of kerosene in subsidized rate are currently being done to States/UTs for the purpose of cooking  and  lighting  only  and  that  for  special  needs,  such  as  natural  calamities,  religious  functions, fisheries,  various  yatras/melas  etc.  MoPNG  has  also  informed  that  States/UTs  may  seek  further additional allocation of Non-subsidized Kerosene after exhausting the allocated quantity. Accordingly, Government of Kerala, in FY 2021-22 was allotted 3084 KL of non-subsidized kerosene initially and an additional allotment of 18804 KL of non-subsidized kerosene on its request.

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