Lok Sabha Question No. 38 (STARRED), answered on 2021-11-30
Subject: Welfare of Fishermen
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shashi Tharoor

## MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRYAND DAIRYING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOKSABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO.*38 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH NOVEMBER, 2021

## Welfare of Fishermen

## *38.  DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

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

- (a) whether the country's fisheries sector enormously contributes to the food security by employing more than 14.5 million people and contributing to 1.07% of the GDP and 5.37% of the agricultural GDP;
- (b) whether the Government will consider upgrading fisheries research and infrastructure and form a Fisheries Council of India for general welfare of fishermen including insurance schemes for their health;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government is aware that almost 70% of shoreline of the State of Kerala has been eroded and thousands of homes of coastal communities destroyed mainly due to the rampant man-made interventions near the coastline;
- (e) if so, whether the Government intends to provide shoreline fisher workers, usually the older fishermen, some additional monetary benefits; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRYAND DAIRYING

(SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a) to (f):    A Statement is placed on the Table of the House.

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## Statement referred to in reply to the Lok Sabha Starred Question No.*38 put in by Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Hon'ble Member of Parliament due for answer on 30 th November, 2021 regarding Welfare of Fishermen.

(a): Fisheries sector plays an important role in the socio-economic development of about 28  million  fisher-folk,  providing  food  and  livelihood  security.  The  contribution  of  the fisheries  sector  in  the  National  Gross  Value  Added  (GVA)  during  2019-20  stood  at Rs.1,26,370  crore  (at  constant  basic  prices;  2011-12)  constituting    0.95  %    to  the  national GVA and 6.42% of the agricultural GVA.

(b) and (c): The  Fisheries  Research  Institutes  under  the Indian  Council  of  Agricultural Research (ICAR) have been upgrading their infrastructures based on research and developmental needs from time-to-time.  Besides, under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana(PMMSY)  and  other  schemes,  the  Department  of  Fisheries,  Ministry  of  Fisheries, Animal  Husbandry  and  Dairying  has  been  supporting  holistic  development  of  Fisheries Sector including welfare of fishers in the country. The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal  Husbandry  and Dairying has no such proposal for establishment of Fisheries Council of India for general welfare of fishermen including insurance schemes for their health.

(d) to (f): Some stretches of  India's  shoreline  are  subject  to  varying  degree  of  erosion due  to  natural  causes  or  anthropogenic  activities.  The  coastal  erosion  does  impact  coastal communities  residing  in  the  erosion  prone  areas  including  fishermen  communities.    The national shoreline change assessment mapping for Indian coast carried out by the National Centre  for  Coastal  Research  (NCCR)  using  28  years  of  satellite  data  from  1990  to  2018 revealed  that  41%  of  coastline  of  Kerala  is  subject  to  varying  degree  of  erosion.  The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of  Fisheries,  Animal Husbandry and  Dairying under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme(CSS); Blue Revolution Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries implemented during the period from 2015-16 to 2019-20 provided financial assistance  to Rs.93.84 crore for implementation fishermen welfare related activities including  construction  of  fishermen  houses.    Besides,  under  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) being implemented with effect from 2020-21, a sum of Rs. 50.89 crore  has  also  been  provided  to  the  Government  of  Kerala  for  implementation  of  welfare related activities including livelihood and nutritional support to socio-economically backward active traditional fishers family.

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