Lok Sabha Question No. 395 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-04
Subject: Welfare Schemes for Fishermen
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Dr. Thirumaavalavan Tholkappiyan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 395 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  FEBRUARY, 2025

## Welfare Schemes for Fishermen

## 395. Dr. Thirumaavalavan Tholkappiyan:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  any  Welfare  Schemes/measures  for  Fishermen  in disaster distress;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has any regular scheme to improve the fishermen standard of living; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (d):  The  Department  of  Fisheries,  Ministry  of  Fisheries,  Animal  Husbandry  and Dairying is implementing a flagship scheme 'Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana' (PMMSY)  to  bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector and welfare of fishermen in India with an investment of Rs.20,050 crore in all States/ Union Territories.  The scheme inter-alia envisages several welfare  related  activities  for  fishers  and  fish  farmers  wherein  the  Department  has approved the National Rollout Plan of Vessel Communication and Support System under the PMMSY scheme including installation of transponders on 1,00,000 fishing vessels in all  Coastal  States  and  Union  Territories  with  a  total  outlay  of  Rs.  364.00  Crore.  The assistance for transponder is provided free of cost to the boat owners to send short text messages with a two way communication during any emergency covering entire EEZ of the country. It also gives alerts to the fishermen if they approach or crosses Maritime Boundaries. In  addition,  other  activities  include  (i)  development  of  Integrated  Modern Coastal Fishing Villages in the maritime States/UTs with an aim to maximize economic and social benefits to coastal fishers while minimizing environmental degradation through sustainable  fishing  practices,  (ii)    insurance  with  a  coverage  of  Rs.5.00  lakh  against accidental death or permanent total disability, Rs. 2.50 lakh against accidental permanent partial disability and  Rs. 25,000 against accidental hospitalization in the age group of 18 to 70 years, (iii) livelihood and nutritional support for socio-economically backward active traditional fishers families for conservation of fish resources during fishing ban/lean period in the age group of 18 to 60 years wherein assistance is provided @Rs.3000/- per fishers and beneficiaries' own contribution of Rs.1500/- for three months during fishing ban/lean period  in  the  ratio  of  50:50  for  general  state,  80:20  for  North  Eastern  States  and Himalayan States while 100% for UTs.

Further, under the ongoing PMMSY, there is a provision to provide  financial assistance for setting up of Fish Farmers Producer Organisations (FFPOs) to economically empower the fishers and fish farmers and enhance their bargaining power which ultimately help to improve the standard of living of fishers. The Department of Fisheries has so far accorded approval for setting up of a total of 2195 FFPOs at a total project cost of Rs.544.85 crore comprising  2000  fisheries  cooperative  as  FFPOs  and  195  new  FFPOs.  Further,  to facilitate access to institutional credit by fishers and fish farmers, Kisan Credit Card facility has been extended to fisheries since 2018-19 and till date 4,50,799 KCC card have been sanctioned to fishers and fish farmers.

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