Lok Sabha Question No. 1885 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-11
Subject: Fishing Infrastructure
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. 1885 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 th  MARCH, 2025

## Fishing Infrastructure

## 1885 . Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian:

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

- (a) Whether Government has any plans to increase the per capita income of fishermen in the country, particularly in Tamil Nadu;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  social,  financial  and  technological  support  for  the development of fishing infrastructure and fishermen welfare in the last three years;
- (c) Whether the Government has any proposal to initiate insurance scheme for fishermen, if so, the details thereof and the total beneficiaries under such scheme in Tamil Nadu; and
- (d)  The  share  of  funds  allocated,  disbursed  &  utilized  under  various  schemes  for  the development of fishermen in the country?

## THE MINISTER OF SATATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## ANSWER (SHRI GEORGE KURIAN)

(a)&(b)The Department of Fisheries, Government of India, along with Government of Tamil Nadu is implementing various schemes to increase overall fish production in the State of Tamil  Nadu  and  thereby  increasing  the  income  of  fishers  and  fish  farmers.  Financial assistance is being provided for the inland fish farmers for construction of new freshwater finfish hatcheries, fish rearing ponds, grow out ponds including inputs, freshwater bio-floc ponds, Re-Circulatory Aquaculture System (RAS) and fish feed mills. Hatcheries have also been established for fast growing genetically improved GIF Tilapia. To promote cage culture and alternate  livelihood,  the  Government  has  allocated  Rs.  11.08  Cr  for  the  Integrated Development  of  Reservoir  Project.  In  marine  sector,  around,  2,000  fisher  families  are engaged in 07 districts of Tamil Nadu for Seaweed farming which proved to be an alternate source of income, particularly for fisherwomen. In cold chain facilities, assistance has been provided for insulated vehicles, refrigerated vehicles, two-wheeler and three wheelers with ice boxes, modern fish retail markets, kiosks and live fish vending centres to reduce postharvest loss and enhancing the income of fishermen.

In order to address the infrastructure requirement for fisheries sector, the Department of Fisheries,  Government  of  India  has  created  a  dedicated  fund  namely  'Fisheries  and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund'(FIDF) with a total funds size of Rs 7,522.48 crore where interest subvention up to 3% per annum is provided for fisheries infrastructure projects. Under FIDF, 64 projects have been sanctioned with project cost of Rs. 1573.73 Crores to the State Government of Tamil Nadu. Besides, as informed by Government of Tamil Nadu, under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), 96 projects have been sanctioned to Tamil Nadu with project cost of Rs. 1664.39 Crores.

(c)  The  Department  of  Fisheries,  Government  of  India  through  National  Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) under the ongoing Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is implementing the Group Accident Insurance Scheme (GAIS) in all States/UTs including Tamil Nadu wherein the entire insurance premium amount is borne by the Central and State Government, with no contribution from the beneficiary. The insurance coverage provided under the said scheme includes (i) Rs.5,00,000/- against death or permanent total disability, (ii) Rs.2,50,000/- for permanent partial disability and (iii) hospitalization expenses in the event of an accident for a sum of Rs. 25,000/. During the last three (from 2021-22 to 2023-24) and current financial year (2024-25), 131.30 lakh of fishers, have been provided the insurance coverage under the scheme with an average of 32.82 lakh fishers annually. As  a  result,  as  on  date  1047  claims  have  so  far  been  settled  against  the  1710  claim proposal received with the claim settled amount of Rs 52.13 crores. Further, as reported by Government of Tamil Nadu, the details of fishers enrolled, claim proposals received and setteles in Tamil Nadu is provided at Annexure . (d) Department of Fisheries, Government of India accorded approval to the projects at a total cost of Rs. 20990.79 crore with the central share of Rs. 8926.33 crore during last 4 years (2020-21 to 2023-24) and current financial year (2024-25). Out of the central funds approved,  an  amount  of  Rs.  4670.79  has  been  released  to  all  the  States/UTs  and implementing agencies under PMMSY for holistic development of fisheries and fishermen in the country. As reported by various States/UTs and other implementing agencies, so far, a sum of Rs. 3160.86 crore has been utilized under PMMSY. Further, under FIDF, 136 projects  with  an  outlay  of  Rs.  5801.06  crore  with  project  cost  restricted  for  interest subvention at Rs. 3858.19 crore have been approved for various States/UTs.

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Annexure

Statement referred to in reply of part (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1885 regarding fishing infrastructure for answer on 11 th  March, 2025: Details of members enrolled, State Share and Central share under the Group Accident Insurance Scheme (GAIS)  under  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Sampada    Yojana  (PMMSY)  implemented  in Tamil Nadu:

| Year     | Members enrolled   |   State Share (40%) per fisher (in Rs.) |   Central Share (60%) per fisher (in Rs.) |   Claimants benefitted | Relief amount paid to beneficiaries (in Rs.)   |
|----------|--------------------|-----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| 2021- 22 | 5,23,237           |                                   22.87 |                                     57.16 |                    124 | 5,81,00,000                                    |
| 2022- 23 | 5,43,949           |                                   28.98 |                                     43.46 |                    128 | 6,16,25,000                                    |
| 2023- 24 | 5,58,966           |                                   38    |                                     57    |                     84 | 3,91,50,000                                    |
| 2024- 25 | 5,73,183           |                                   33.6  |                                     50.4  |                     02 | 10,00,000                                      |