Lok Sabha Question No. 2490 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-10
Subject: GPS AND FISHERMEN WELFARE
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Km. Sudha R

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2490

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## GPS AND FISHERMEN WELFARE

## 2490. Km. Sudha R:

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

- (a) the details of fishing vessels fitted with GPS gadgets, State-wise;
- (b) the details of fuel and other subsidies available for fishermen. State-wise;
- (c)  whether  there  is  any  central  funds  or  logistical  and  security  assistance  to  fishermen engaged in fishing  activities  near  international  maritime  boundaries  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d) whether there is any central scheme available for reimbursement of fishing vessel cost if they are detained or destroyed by foreign countries and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  the  details  of  fishermen  welfare  measures  availed  by  fishermen  in  Mayiladuthurai parliamentary constituency?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): Department of Fisheries (DoF), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Government  of  India  (GoI)  has  earmarked  funds  under  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for provision for safety kits which include Global Positioning System (GPS), life-jackets, other life-saving appliances, search & rescue beacons etc. including  Distress  Alert  Transmitters  (DATs),  Automatic  Identification  System  (AIS), Navigation with Indian Constellation (NAVIC), etc. to fishermen. Under the PMMSY, the funds amounting to Rs. 1678.36 lakh has so far been approved for providing safety kits to fishers as per the proposals received from States and UTs. The state-wise details of the safety kits provided to fishers is at Annexure.
- (b) Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, has reported that the prices of diesel in the country are market-determined with effect from 19.10.2014. Since then, the public sector Oil  Marketing  Companies  (OMCs)  take  appropriate  decision  on  pricing  of  diesel. Simultaneously, different mechanisms of providing subsidy/ Tax exemptions or reimbursements  to  control  the  diesel  prices  for  fishing  communities  exists  in  different coastal States/UTs. Further, it is also reported that effective from 1st March, 2020 the retail selling price of PDS Kerosene is being maintained at nil under-recovery level on pan India basis.

(c):  Under  the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the Department of Fisheries, has approved a project on National Rollout Plan for Vessel Communication and Support  System  including  installation  of  transponders  on  marine  fishing  vessels  for Monitoring,  Control  and  Surveillance.  National  Rollout  Plan  envisages  installation  of 1,00,000 transponders on mechanized and motorized fishing vessels in 13 coastal states and  union  territories  with  an  outlay  of  Rs.364  Crores  with    support  of  Indian  Space Research Organization(ISRO) and NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) as implementing agency. The transponders are provided to the fishermen free of cost with 60: 40 funding pattern between Centre and States and 100% central share for UTs. While fishing, in case the fishermen crosses the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), the alerts will be given to them to avoid unintentional transgression of IMBL.

(d): At present, there is no existing central scheme available for reimbursement of fishing vessel  cost  if  they  are  detained  or  destroyed  by  foreign  countries.  However,  under PMMSY, financial assistance is provided to States and UTs for providing of fishing boats (replacement) and nets for traditional fishermen. Under the PMMSY, the funds amounting to  Rs.  25241.90  lakh  has  so  far  been  approved  for  providing  6706  fishing  boats (replacement) and nets for traditional fishermen as per the proposals received from States and UTs.

(e): As per the information received from Government of Tamil Nadu, 32,207 fishers and fish farmers of Mayiladuthurai parliamentary constituency availed the benefits amounting to Rs. 2156.32 Lakhs under PMMSY during 2022-2025 for different components of the scheme, viz. livelihood  and  nutritional  support  for  socio-economically  backward  active traditional fisher's families during the fishing ban/lean period, Group Accident Insurance Scheme (GAIS), Construction of Cold Storages/Ice Plants, Ponds construction and its input subsidy.

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Annexure

State-wise  details  of  the  financial  assistance  for  providing  safety  kits  for fishermen  of  Traditional  and  motorized  fishing  vessels  under  Centrally Sponsored Scheme PMMSY (As on 06-12-2024) (Rs. In Lakhs)

|         |                    | (2020-25)      | (2020-25)    | (2020-25)           |
|---------|--------------------|----------------|--------------|---------------------|
| Sl. No. | Name of the States | Physical (No.) | Project Cost | Govt of India Share |
| 1       | Karnataka          | 781            | 324.36       | 165.6               |
| 2       | Lakshadweep        | 300            | 300          | 180                 |
| 3       | Maharashtra        | 3              | 3            | 0.84                |
| 4       | Puducherry         | 940            | 940          | 399                 |
| 5       | Tamil Nadu         | 100            | 100          | 24                  |
| 6       | West Bengal        | 11             | 11           | 3.6                 |
| Total   | Total              | 2135           | 1678.36      | 773.04              |

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