Lok Sabha Question No. 2562 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-05
Subject: Fisher-Women in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2562 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 th  AUGUST, 2025

## Fisher-Women in Tamil Nadu

## 2562. Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian:

Will the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying be pleased to state:

- (a)  total  amount  released  and  utilized  under  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Sampada  Yojana (PMMSY) for Tamil Nadu during the last five years;
- (b) the number of women -led households or women fisher in Tamil Nadu receiving benefits (like seaweed training or asset aid) under the scheme;
- (c) the manner in which the Government  ensures targeted inclusion of Tamil Nadu women in schemes like Seaweed Farming and cold chain grants; and
- (d) the mechanisms are in place to periodically evaluate gender -disaggregated benefits under PMMSY in Tamil Nadu?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI GEORGE KURIAN)

(a):  The  Department  of  Fisheries,  Government  of  India  (DoF,  GoI)  is  implementing  Pradhan  Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with an estimated investment of Rs. 20,050 crores during FY 202021 to 2024-25 in all states/Union Territories including Tamil Nadu. PMMSY aims for holistic development of fisheries sector including welfare of fishers and fish farmers, and it is designed to address critical gaps in  the  fisheries  value  chain  from  fish  production,  productivity  and  quality  to  technology,  post-harvest infrastructure  and  marketing  etc.  Based  on  the proposals received from Government of Tamil Nadu, projects with total cost of Rs. 1158.54 crore with central share of Rs. 451.55 crore have been approved under PMMSY to Tamil Nadu during 2020-2025. As informed by Government of Tamil Nadu, out of total central share Rs. 258.46 crore have been utilized by the State for implementation of the approved projects under PMMSY.

(b) to (d): DoF, GoI is promoting seaweed farming as one of the priority activities under PMMSY in coastal States and Union Territories including Tamil Nadu to support livelihood of coastal communities especially women beneficiaries. The subsidy is extended for purchase of rafts, monolines and seed material for Seaweed farming. From 2020-21 to 2024-25, Rs.77.31 lakh for 8595 rafts and Rs.123.84 lakh for 2580 monolines  have  been  released  under  PMMSY  to  fishers  of  Tamil  Nadu  including  the  women beneficiaries. Under the schemes of Government of India, training programs for seaweed cultivation have also been imparted to 750 fisherwomen during 2018-19. The DoF, GoI on 12.12.2022 has approved a Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu with project cost of Rs. 127.71 crore under PMMSY to support seaweed farming and its value chain. The seaweed park envisages to involve and engage manpower of 8,821  people  in  various  activities  to  promote  their  livelihoods.  The  initiative  is  expected  to  generate employment for up to 18,000 fishermen, especially women and their self-help groups and FFPOs.

As  informed  by  Government  of  Tamil  Nadu,  during  last  five  years,  (2020-21  to  2024-25),  1,83,264 numbers of fishermen/fish farmers including women and women self-help groups are benefited under PMMSY in Tamil Nadu. From 2020-21 to 2024-25, Rs.334.55 lakh to 6 beneficiaries for Construction of Ice plants, Rs.15.06 crore to 182 beneficiaries for insulated vehicles, Rs.1.44 crore to 10 beneficiaries for Refrigerated vehicles have been released as subsidy. Government of Tamil Nadu has also informed that under PMMSY scheme, the State Government does not evaluate gender- disaggregated benefits under  each  components.  In  this  regard,  the  district  level  officers  are  providing  regular  awareness programmes on various Government schemes and programmes. Based on this, the beneficiaries (both men and women) are selected upon their willingness and got benefited under the preferred components of PMMSY scheme through concerned district subordinate office.

*****