Lok Sabha Question No. 1006 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-13
Subject: Welfare Schemes for Fishermen
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Dr. T. Sumathy (a) Thamizhachi Thangapandian

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRYAND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1006 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13 TH  DECEMBER, 2022

## Welfare Schemes for Fishermen

## 1006 DR. T. SUMATHY (a) THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN:

Will the Minister  of  FISHERIES  ANIMAL,  HUSBANDRY  AND  DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  chalked  out  any  comprehensive  welfare  schemes  for  the development of fishermen community in the country, State-wise including Tamil Nadu;

(b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  funds  allocated  and  disbursed  under  various  welfare  schemes during each of the last eight years and the current year in Tamil Nadu;

(c) the details of steps taken by the Government to provide adequate skill training, provision of State-of-the  art  technology  gadgets  for  fishing  and  storage  and  for  the  creation  of  value-added products; and

(d) the total funds allocated to Tamil Nadu during the said period?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a) and (b): The  Department  of  Fisheries,  Ministry  of  Fisheries,  Animal  Husbandry  and Dairying  has  been  implementing  various  schemes  for  development  of  fisheries  in  the  country including in the State of Tamil Nadu and welfare of fishermen is at the core of the schemes. The schemes implemented include; (i) Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries implemented at a total central outlay of Rs 3000 crore for  a  period  of  5  years  from  2015-16  to  2019-20,  (ii)  Fisheries  and  Aquaculture  Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) with a total fund size of Rs 7522.48 crore for a period of 5 years from 2018-19  to  2023-24  for  providing  concessional  finance,  (iii)  issuance  of  Kisan  Credit  Cards (KCC) to fishers and fish farmers and (iv) Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) under Atmanirbhar Bharat Package with an investment of Rs.20,050 crore for a period of 5 years from 2020-21 to 2024-25.

PMMSY inter-alia provides financial support for procurement of boats for better catch, nets, communication and tracking devices & safety kits to ensure safety of fishermen while at sea, post- harvest facilities, fish transport, value addition & marketing to improve value realization to fishers,  construction  of  ponds,  tanks,  hatcheries  and  necessary  inputs  for  undertaking  fish farming, and development of fisheries infrastructure, cold chain facilities, fish market infrastructure and processing facilities and such other activities to improve price realization. All these activities add to fishers income and welfare.  Further, PMMSY also provides (i) Livelihood and  nutritional  support  for  socio-economically  backward  active  traditional  fishers  families  for conservation of fish resources during fishing ban/lean period, (ii) Insurance to Fishers and (iii) Insurance premium subvention for fishing vessels.

Under  PMMSY, a total  project  cost  worth  of  Rs.  446.52  crore  with  admissible  central share of Rs 154.27 crore has been approved as on date for development of fisheries and welfare of fishers'  community in Tamil Nadu. In addition, fisheries infrastructure project proposals worth Rs.  1425.73  crore  for  providing  admissible  concessional  finance  have  also  been  approved  for Tamil Nadu under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF). The central funds to the tune of Rs. 585.57 crore has been released to the Government of Tamil Nadu under  various  schemes  for  development  of  Fisheries  in  the  State  including  fishermen  welfare related activities during last eight years from 2014-15 to 2021-22.

(c) and (d): PMMSY  inter-alia lays special focus on training, skill development, skill upgradation  and  capacity  building  through  trainings,  awareness  building  programmes  and exposure visits to various stakeholders especially fishers, fish farmers, fish workers, fish vendors, entrepreneurs, officials, fisheries Cooperatives and members of Fish Farmer Producer Organizations for various fishing, aquaculture and post harvest related activities. The Training, Awareness,  Exposure  and  Capacity  Building  programmes  are  carried  out  through  the  National Fisheries Development Board, ICAR institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), other organisations  and  State/UT  Fisheries  Departments.  Besides  these  regular  programmes,  skill development programmes to traditional fishermen through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme approved by Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI) in respect of marine/ inland capture fisheries are also provided.

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