Lok Sabha Question No. 1596 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-10
Subject: Welfare Schemes for Seafarers
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Jayanta Kumar Roy

## GOVERNMENT  OF INDIA MINISTRY  OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO-  .I596

ANSWERED ON 1OIO2I2O23

## WELFARE SCHEMES  FOR SEAFARERS

1596. SHRIMATI  SANGEETA  KUMARI SINGH DEO: DR. JAYANTA KUMAR  ROY;

Will the Minister  of PORTS,  SHIPPING  AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state: !-f,{,  +d cft-{6{  sfl-r (trcFf  i*

- (a) whether the Government  has taken steps to strengthen  the welfare  schemes for seafarers  in the country including  providing  a safe working  environment on ships and if
- so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the Seafarer  Welfare  Fund Society  (SWFS) has been set up for welfare of lndian seafarers  and their families;
- (c) if so, the details and the salient features thereof along with the funds released/utilized  during each of the last three  years  and the current  year;
- (d) whether the Government has formalized any mechanism lo safeguard the interest of the lndian crew members abroad in foreign vessels specially during exigencies like pirate  hijacking  or fatal  accidents and if so, the details  thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government for the welfare of seafarers and to resolve their grievances in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF PORTS. SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA  SONOWAL)

- (a) Yes Sir. The Government  of lndia is very conscious  of the need for continuous upskilling  and welfare of the seafarers  and their families. The Government has taken various  measures to strengthen  the welfare schemes  for seafarers in the country including providing safe working environment on ships. The measures taken by the Government to strengthen  welfare  schemes for seafarers  and their families are:
- i. The Government of lndia ratified the Maritime Labour Convention,2006(MLC) of ILO which is a tripartite Convention of Government,  Seafarers  and employers and implemented  the same by framing the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour)  Rules, 2016(ML Rules) and Merchant Shipping (Recruitment  and Placement of Seafarers) Rules, 2016' (RPS Rules)' providing for regulatory framework for manning and labour matters including Seafarers'  employment agreements,  wages, hours of work and rest, leave,repatriation, manning levels, career and skill development opportunities

for seafarers,accommodation  and recreational  facilities, food and catering, Health protection, lvledical care, Welfare and Social protection, flag state and port  state  obligations  and complaint  procedures  etc.

- ii. The Central Government  though its organizations such as Seamen Provident Fund Organization (SPFO) and Seafarers  Welfare  Fund Society (SWFS) has implemented various schemes for the welfare of the seafarers and their families. The schemes being implemented  by these organizations  include Provident Fund Scheme, Survival  Benefit Scheme, lnvalidity Benefit Scheme, Maternity Benefit  Scheme for female seafarers, the Old age benefit Welfare Scheme, Family Benefit Welfare Scheme, SWFS-Novel Corona-virus (Covid19) Assistance Schemeand  Ex-Gratia Assistanceon Death.
2. t ln addition, various Seafarer's  hostel/club  / Welfare  centres  have been established  and are functioning  at various  port cities across the country, for example, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai,  Cochin, Port Blair, Haldia, Kandla, Kakinada, Gangavaram and Paradip  which function under the supervision of the Mercantile  Marine  Departments  (NIMDs)/Ports.
3. For enhancement  of skill and competence  of seafarers, there are various schemes  that have been implemented through the Maritime  Training  Trust under the DG Shipping including, the Skill enhancement program  of GP Rating  and cadets, E-Learning for Certificate  of Competencies  Courses,  ELearning  for Modular Courses,  Conduct of online Course on English Communication  & Soft Skill for faculty, and Providing of enhanced financial support for women  seafaring  candidates.
4. Several measures  have been taken to ease the hardship faced by the seafarers  due to COVID 19 pandemic  including  steps for combat corona  virus on board ships, pre-board screening,  vaccination of seafarers, e-pass  facility, controlled  crew change, crew changethrough chartered  flights, extension of validity of certificates  and continuation  of training and examination  system through e-mode  etc.

(b)&(c) On recommendation  made by the Sub-Committee of the National Welfare  Board for Seafarers,  the Central Government  has set up the Seafarers Welfare  Fund Society (SWFS) as an autonomous society in the yearl964 and it is registered  under the Societies Registration  Act, 1860.

The following welfare schemes are implemented  by the SWFS  for the benefit of the lndian  seafarers  and their family  members:-

- i. Survival Benefit  Scheme,
- ii. lnvalidity Benefit  Scheme,

- iii. Maternity  Benefit  Scheme (for women  seafarers)
- v. Family Benefit  Scheme.
- iv. Old Age Benefit  Scheme,
- vi. Ex-Gratia  Assistance  on death (for registered foreign going seamen only)
- vii. SWFS-Novel Coronavirus COVID-19  Assistance Scheme) (Now discontinued from 30.06.2022).

Salient  features of these Schemes  are given in  AEgIg!9\_1.The  details of amount spenl on various  welfare schemes during the last three years and the current year by SWFS is provided in the attached  statement  as Annexure-ll.

- (d)& (e) Yes sir, the Government has taken several steps to safeguard the interest oflndian seafarers  during  exigencies  like pirate hijacking  or fatal accidents and details are as follows:-
- ii. The Govt. of lndia has also set up the Committee of Secretaries on Anti-Piracy and Hijacking  at sea (COSAPH),  under the chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary, Government of lndia, for such crisis management and to advise  the Government  on allied major  policy and strategy decisions.
- i. To deal with potential maritime  security  situations arising  out of any hijacking  at sea of merchant vessels  with lndian crew, an lnter-Ministerial Group of Officers (IMGO) has been set up by the Government  of lndia, under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Watemays, Govt. of lndia. Further,  Anti-Piracy Contingency Plan for dealing with piracy and hUacking  of merchanl  ships with lndian crew has been prepared  by Ministry of Ports, Shipping and WateMays and activated at the time of such an incident.  This  plan which aims at ensuring the safe release of lndian national  crew taken to shore after  piracy or unlaMul interferences  at sea sets into motion an immediate integrated response by concerned Ministries/Departments/Organizations.
- iii. The Directorate  General  of Shipping,  Govt. of lndia has issued various notices / maritime security  advisories / circulars,  laying down  guidelines  and actions to be initiated  by lndian Merchant Ships, Shipping companies & other stakeholders to prevenl  and/or take action for piracy & armed robbery incidents. All the circulafs/notices are made available  in the Public domain  and on the website  of the Directorate  General of Shipping  (www.dgshipping.gov.in)
- v. The Directorate  General of Shipping,  Govt. of lndia has approved a security training  program which includes a  piracy  awareness  module lo sensitize  and improve preparedness of seafarers in case of piracy & armed robbery  incidents at sea. All lndian seafarers  are mandatorily  required  to complete  this course prior to  joining  a vessel.
- iv. Furthermore,Naval escorts were being provided by lndian navy in coordination with the Directorate General of Shipping in the Gulf of Aden during the period beginning from 2008 when piracy was prevalent in this region. Accordingly,  safe passage was being provided to the Indian flag merchant  ships in the Gulf of Aden by utilizing the lndian Naval convoys.
- lndia has also been actively  participating  in the security  meetings  of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia  (CGPCS)  and other international  fora such as the Shared Awareness  & De-confliction (SHADE)  and Friends of the Gulf of Guinea (FoGG)  to ensure active  participation  of the international community  to curb the menace of piracy.
- lndia had taken up the matter of increased  piracy activity in the Gulf of Guinea during the meeting of 10'1st Maritime Safety Committee  of lnternational Maritime  Organization  which is one of the reasons resulting  in IMO taking action to enhance the coordination  of initiatives among stakeholders,  including facilitating  meetings  with representatives of the industry,  the Nigeria Maritime Administration  and Safety Agency (NlN,IASA)  and the lnter-regional Coordination  Centre (lCC).
- As per Rule 5 (j) of Merchant  Shipping  (Recruitment  and Placement of Seafarers)  Rules, 2016, the Recruitment and Placement  of Seafarers  (RPS) service provider reports the incident  or casualty on -board causing injury or death,  disappearance, loss overboard  or homicide  by or of an lndian National to the Director General of Shipping at the earliest  and not later than twenty four hours of the receipt of such information. On receipt of the report, as per the protocol followed  by the Directorate General of Shipping, the following actions are being taken  on each case: viii.
- a. Gather  more information,  if required, from the RPS providers.
- b. Take up the matter with the lndian Mission  and requesting them for providing  necessary  assistance  as required  in the matter.
- c. To contact  the Flag State and Port State authorities  to carry out lvlarine Safety investigation in accordance  with the lnternational Convention  on the Laws of the Sea and Casualty lnvestigation  Code of lnternational Maritime  Organization  and to furnish  the investigation  report.
- d. Coordinate with P&l and Owners of the vessel  for payment  of death compensation  to the next of kin of the deceased.
- Further,  the Directorate  has set up DG Communication center  (DG Commcentre) in 2004, acting as a Maritime Assistance  Service (MAS) in accordance  with lN,lO guidelines  for dissemination  of information 24x7 to stakeholders in the shipping fraternity  on safety and security  incident. ix.
- The information  related to shipping incidents  occurring at sea on board the lndian ships  globally  and lndian nationals on board the lndian and a foreign vessel is shared wilh concerned  Govt. authorities/agencies and shipping companies /operators to initiate action at their end. Each incident is being handled and monitored by DG Commcentre  in order to respond  to the incident by respective stakeholder. The Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre ([IRCC) of concerned region is also responsible for co-coordinating  air-sea rescue  in that region. x.
- To redress the grievances of seafarers  related to welfare schemes, there is a grievance  redressal mechanism  prevalent in the SWFS as well as in the Office of the Directorate  General of Shipping. xt.
- xii. The Government attaches  the highest  priority  to the safety, security and wellbeing of  lndians, including seafarers,  in foreign  countries. lndian Missions/Posts abroad  remain vigilant and closely monitor the incidents related  to indian nationals  in foreign countries.  As soon as the information about  a stranded/distressed  lndian national  is received by an lndian lvlission/Post,  it immediately  gets  in touch with the lndian national,  local Foreign Office and other concerned local authorities, as the case may be, to ascertain the facts of the case, confirm his lndian nationality and ensure his welfare.
- Apart from extending  possible consular  assistance to lndian nationals  in distress,  lndian lvlissions/Posts also assist in providing legal aid wherever needed. Missions/Posts also maintain a local  panel  of lawyers where lndian community is in sizeable  numbers. The lndian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF)  is set up in lndian Missions/Posts  abroad for assisting overseas lndian nationals in distress situations  on a means tested  basis in deserving cases. The support extended under ICWF includes financial assistance  to lndian nationals for legal aid as well as travel documents  / air tickets. xiii.

## Annexure I

## Note on Welfare Schemes run bv Seafarer's Welfare Fund Societv

- t. Survival  Benefit Schemer (effective  trcm 2110812014) This scheme is applicable to the lndian seafarers, holding CDC book, and who are last recruited/engaged by the lndian ship owners or through registered RPSL, for either  lndian or foreign flag vessel, before  their death.  Under this scheme  the financial assistance  of Rs 1  ,00,000/-(Rupees  One Lac Only), on death of lndian seafarer is paid  to the eligible beneficiary of the lndian  seafarer, who has expired on ot allet 2110812014,  within off article period  of 12 months from the date of sign off from last vessel/ship  as recruited/engaged  above and have submitted  claim within the period of 2 years  from the date of death of the seafarer. Ihe financial assistance  enhanced  to Rs. Z,OO,OOO/- for benefic iary w.e.f. 1 6/03/201 6.
- ii. lnvalidity  Benefit Scheme:  (effective  from 2110812014\ This scheme rs applicable to the lndian seafarers, holding CDC book, and who are last recruited/engaged by the lndian ship owners or through  registered RpLS, for either lndian or foreign  flag vessel, before occurrence of injury due to which he/she  become permanently  unfit for seafaring  profession.  Under this scheme the financial assistance of Rs 1,00,000t (Rupees  One Lac only) is paid  to the lndian seafarers,  who became  permanently unfit for seafaring profession,  due to an injury  that occurred on ot atiet2110812114,  within off article period  of 12 months from the date of signoff from the last vessel/ship  as recruited /engaged above and have submitted claim within the period  of 2 years from the date of certificate issued by the DGS approved medical practitioner.  The financial assistance  enhanced  to Rs 2,00,000/-  (Rupees Two Lakh per beneficiary  w.e.f.'161031201  6.
- iii. Maternity  Benefit Scheme  for female  seafarer  This scheme is applicable to the lndian female seafarer for delivery of child w.e.f21108/2014.  The seafarer holding  CDC book, and who are last recruited/engaged  by the lndian ship owners  or through registered  RPSL, for either lndian or foreign  flag vessel, before the delivery  date, are eligible  under this scheme. Under this scheme the financial  assistance  of Rs. 25,000/- (Rupees  Twenty Five Thousand only) is  granted  to the lndian  female  seafarer for delivery on or after 21tOBl2O14, within off articled period  of 60 months, from the date of sign off from the last

vessel/ship,  as recruited/engaged  above  and have submitted  claim  within a period  of 2 years  from the date of delivery.  Such financial assistance shall be paid,  only for 2 deliveries, in the above case.

- The Old age benefit Welfare Scheme: (effective  trcmo1lO112019) under this scheme the financial assistance  of Rs.50,0001 is paid to the lndian seafarers who attend the age of 65(Sixty Five) years  onlst January 2019 or thereafter and fulfill all the following  condition  i.e.
- b. He/She should have joined lndian flag vessel or engaged through Registered  (RPSL) License  holding company,
- a. He/She should have at least 6  months sea service after 0110412014aftet  lhe age of 55 years:
- c. He/she should have an lndian CDC, which has since been cancelled.

## Family Benefit Welfare Scheme:

To pay the financial assistance to the lndian seafarers whose son/daughter  completes the pre-sea training course  from the DGS approved lnstitute on or after 011O112019  and obtains the lndian CDC for joining  seafaring  profession.  The financial assistance  of Rs.25,0001 in respect of son and Rs.50,000/-  for daughter is paid to the seafarers.

To pay the financial  assistance to the lndian seafarers whose son/daughter successfully completes 2 years full-time post-graduation degree/diploma in any discipline other than maritimestream,  duly approved by UGC/Deemed University  /AICTE on orafter 01/01/2019.  The financial  assistance  of Rs.10,0001  in respect of son and Rs.15,0001 for daughter is paid to the seafarers.

The seafarers who fulfil all the following conditions  will be eligible for the benefits under the family benefit  welfare  scheme, and is restricted  to 2 (two) children  only:

- a. He/She should have at least 6 months sea service aftet 0110412014.
- b. He/She  should have joined lndian flag vessel or engaged through Registered License  holding company,  and
- c. He/she should  have an lndian CDC.
4. SWFS-Novel Corona-virus  (Covidl9)  Assistance  Scheme:  This scheme was implemented after the outburst of Corona-virus (Covid-'19)  in lndia. This scheme  startedw.e.t.  01lO2l202O.  Under this scheme SWFS  provides financial assistance to the seafarers & their family members for  'in-patient hospitalization  treatment for Corona-virus  (Covid-19) and in case death of seafarers. Under this scheme the SWFS provides the financial assistance of50% of hospitalization expenditure or maximum up to Rs. One Lac, for inpatient hospitalization treatment taken for novel corona-virus  (Covid-'19).

Further the financial assistance  amounting to Rs. Two Lakh is paid to the next of kin of the seafarer in case of death of seafarer due to Corona-virus  (Covid19). The Scheme is time bound till the end of Corona-virus (Covid-19) pandemic  in lndia.

- Ex-Gratia  Assistance  on  Death: This scheme is implemented w.e.f.o1/01/1993  applicable  only to the lndian seafarers  who are registered under foreign going  sector and expire on or after 1 .1 .1993 while in off articled period and who are or were within the age of superannuation at the time of their death and hold or held valid registrations  or were serving  seamen  whose registration  were kept in abeyance or cancelled subsequently.  (Registration with Seamen's Employment Office) Under this scheme an amount  of Rs 2 Lakh (Rupees  Two Lakh only) w.e.I 1610312016 is paid towards Ex-Gratia Assistance on Death to widows/dependants  of seafarer, for the death of seafarer  occurred  on or afterl6/03/2016.

## Annexure ll

|    |                                                               | F.Y.2019-20          | F.Y.2019-20        | F.Y. 2020-21          | F.Y. 2020-21       | F.Y. 2021-22          | F.Y. 2021-22       | F.Y. 2022-23         | F.Y. 2022-23       |
|----|---------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|--------------------|-----------------------|--------------------|-----------------------|--------------------|----------------------|--------------------|
| No | Name of the Welfare Scheme                                    | No. of Beneficiaries | Amount (in Rupees) | No. of Beneficiari CS | Amount (in Rupees) | No. of Beneficia ries | Amount (in Rupees) | No. of Beneficiaries | Amount (in Rupees) |
| 1  | Survival Benefit Scheme                                       | 29                   | 56,80,000. 00      | 16                    | 32,00,000.00       | 59                    | 1 ,19,00,000.00    | 27                   | 54,00,000.00       |
| 2  | lnvalidity Benefit Scheme                                     | 1                    | 2,00,000. 00       | I                     | 2,00,000.00        | 1                     | 2,00,000.00        | 1                    | 2,00,000.00        |
| 3  | Maternity Benefit Scheme                                      |                      |                    |                       | 25,000.00          |                       | 75,000.00          |                      |                    |
| 4  | Family Benefit Scheme-Pre-Sea Training                        |                      |                    |                       |                    |                       |                    | 2                    | 50,000.00          |
| 4  | Family Benefit Scheme-Post Graduation Degree / Diploma Course |                      |                    | 1                     | 15,000.00          |                       |                    |                      | 10,000.00          |

| E   | OId Age Benefit Scheme                              |     | 13,00,000.00      |     | 44,00,000.00   | 139   | 69,50,000.00    | 121   | 60,50,000.00   |
|-----|-----------------------------------------------------|-----|-------------------|-----|----------------|-------|-----------------|-------|----------------|
| 6   | SWFS-Novel Coronavirus (covrD-19) Assistance Scheme |     |                   | BB  | 76,30,794.00   | 439   | 4,21 ,17,304.00 | 89    | 94,94,847.00   |
| 7   | MEMA (Reg.FG seaman)                                | 911 | 1 ,'l 3,86,700.00 | 199 | 24,87,500.00   | 80    | 10,00,000.00    |       |                |
|     |                                                     |     |                   |     |                |       |                 |       | 2,87,500.00    |
| 8   | Ex-Gratia Assistance on death                       |     | 2,00,000.00       |     |                |       |                 |       |                |
|     | Total                                               | 941 | 1,87,55,700.00    | 305 | 1,79,58,294.00 | 718   | 6,22,42,304.00  | 264   | 2,14,92,347.00 |