Lok Sabha Question No. 343 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-11-30
Subject: Attacks on Fishermen
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Sougata Ray

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 343 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 th  NOVEMBER, 2021

## Attacks on Fishermen

## 343. PROF. SOUGATA RAY

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

- (a) whether the Government has noticed that a large number of fishermen were attacked by armed forces of neighbouring countries;
- (b) if so, the steps taken to protect the lives of our fishermen; and
- (c) the details of such attacks by Pakistan and Sri Lanka during the last three years?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## (PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a) to  (c):  Incidences  of  Indian  fishing  boats  being  attacked  by  maritime  agencies  of  Sri Lanka and Pakistan have been reported. The Government of India attaches highest priority to  the  safety  and  security  of  Indian  fishermen.  As  soon  as  reports  of  attack  on  Indian fishermen were received, Government of India took up the matter with both these countries. The Government of India has lodged its strong protests with the Governments of Sri Lanka and  Pakistan  in  all  such  instances  and  continues  to  reiterate  to  these  Governments  to consider  the  issue  of  fishermen  as  a  humanitarian  and  livelihood  matter.  To  effectively address the issues relating to Indian fishermen, their safety and security between India and Sri Lanka, over the years, bilateral Joint Working Group (JWG) mechanism and meeting of the  Honourable Ministers of  Fisheries of  India and Sri  Lanka have been institutionalized. The  last  round  of  the  JWG  was  held  in  December,  2020,  wherein  both  the  Governments discussed the entire gamut of issues related to fishermen.

Government of India is providing assistance to the fisherman under its schemes.  In order  to  diversify  the  fishing  activities  of  Indian  fishermen  by  providing  assistance  to fishermen  of  Palk  Bay  area  to  enabling  them  to  take  up  deep-sea  fishing  including  tuna fishing,  a  subcomponent  'Assistance  to  Deep  Sea  Fishing'  was  introduced  under  the  Blue Revolution Scheme of the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.  An amount of Rs. 300 crore was released during 2017-18 towards subsidy to the  Government  of  Tamil  Nadu  for  procurement  of  deep-sea  fishing  vessels  under  this scheme and for construction of Fish Landing Centre at Kunthakal in Rameshwaram district of Tamil  Nadu.  Training  is  also  provided  to  fishermen  on  deep  sea  fishing  and  handling techniques.  Blue  Revolution  Scheme  also  had  another  component  to  provide  financial assistance  for  promoting  open  sea  cage  culture  as  alternative  livelihood  support  to  coastal fishermen and their families for diversification.

The  Department  of  Fisheries  is  implementing  a  flagship  scheme  namely  'Pradhan Mantri  Matsya  Sampada  Yojana  (PMMSY)  with  an  investment  of  Rs.  20,050  crore  for  a period  of  5  years with  effect  from  the  financial  year  2020-21  to  2024-25  in  all  States  and Union Territories. Under PMMSY,  financial support is provided to fishermen for communication/tracking  and  Potential  Fishing  Zone  (PFZ)  devices,  safety  kits  besides livelihood  and  nutritional  supports  as  well  as  insurance.  PMMSY  also  provides  for multipurpose support services to fishermen through Sagar Mitras.

PMMSY also provides for financial assistance for promotion of seaweed cultivation, open  sea  cage  culture,  seed  rearing,  bivalve  cultivation,  recreational  fisheries  and  sea ranching to marine fishers for diversification of livelihood.

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