Lok Sabha Question No. 3582 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-17
Subject: Women Beneficiaries under PMMSY
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3582 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## Women Beneficiaries under PMMSY

## 3582. Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy:

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

- (a) the details of women assisted under PM Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) within Tamil Nadu and what specific initiatives have been implemented to empower women in fisheries sector;
- (b)  whether the Government ensuring that benefits of PMMSY are reaching women from marginalized  and  rural  communities,  who  are  often  engaged  in  small-scale  fishing  and aquaculture;
- (c) whether training and capacity-building programs are being offered to women under this scheme to enhance their skills and promote entrepreneurship in the fisheries sector;
- (d) whether the financial support mechanisms available for women entrepreneurs under the PMMSY and how are these funds being monitored to ensure effective utilization; and
- (e)  the  details  of  measures  in  place  to  assess  the  impact  of  the  PMMSY  on  women's livelihoods and empowerment in the fisheries sector and how does the Government plan to report these outcomes?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

(a): The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is a flagship scheme of the Government of India designed to enhance the overall growth of the fisheries sector. One of the key objectives of PMMSY is to empower the marginalized groups such as women in the fisheries sector. Accordingly, women beneficiaries are provided with 60% financial assistance under beneficiaries oriented activities of the PMMSY. Under PMMSY, during the last four Financial Years (2020-21 to 2023-24) and current FY (2024-25), a total of Rs. 3049.91 crore worth of projects have been sanctioned, covering a total of 56,850 women beneficiaries including 11,642 women beneficiaries of Tamil Nadu State. Seaweed farming is being promoted in a mission mode in Tamil Nadu which is supported under PMMSY through financial, marketing and logistical support to ensure income and welfare gains to small fisher population especially women and fisherwomen headed households.

(b): Yes Sir. Women beneficiaries play a vital role in the fisheries value chain, and the PMMSY  is  designed  to  provide  them  with  financial  assistance  and  support.  Women beneficiaries  are  availing  financial  assistance  across  various  sectors  and  activities, including  aquaculture  such  as  fish  farming,  hatcheries,  seaweed  farming,  bivalve cultivation, ornamental fisheries, fish processing, and marketing, etc. The wide range of activities ensures that women have the opportunity to participate in different aspects of the fisheries value chain, from production to post-harvest management. (c):  Training  and  capacity-building  programs  have  been  imparted  to  women  under PMMSY. The projects are approved based on proposals received from the states and include  initiatives  aimed  at  enhancing  women's  participation  in  the  fisheries  sector, providing them with the resources needed for entrepreneurship, training, skill development and livelihood generation through various activities under PMMSY. The National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) has conducted workshop and training programs to the women beneficiaries under Entrepreneurship Model on Women Entrepreneurship to encourage start-ups, and develop entrepreneurship business models in an integrated and innovative approach. More than 5,000 women beneficiaries have been trained under various training programs organized by the NFDB through various institutes, universities and colleges in the country. (d)  &  (e):  Under  Entrepreneur  Model  of  PMMSY  (Central  Sector)  women  are  being supported with financial assistance up to 60% of the total project cost, with a subsidy limit of Rs.1.50 crore on ceiling limit of total project cost Rs.5.00 crore. The projects that are approved and implemented under PMMSY are monitored by District level officials of State to ensure effective utilization and outcome of the scheme. Besides, the implementation of the scheme and its funds utilization are also being monitored by obtaining physical and financial  progress  reports  from  the  State  Governments.  The  different  components provided under PMMSY ensure that women of marginalized and rural communities, who are  often  engaged  in  small-scale  fisheries  and  aquaculture  are  able  to  contribute significantly in production to post-harvest management, which has helped in empowering the women by improving their livelihood and socio-economic conditions.

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