Lok Sabha Question No. 3589 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-17
Subject: Safety Training for Fishermen
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Naveen Jindal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3589

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## Safety Training for Fishermen

## 3589. Shri Naveen Jindal:

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

(a) whether the Government plan to provide training or to make fishermen aware of the issues relating to safety and maritime boundary;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  find  a  permanent  solution  for  the  problem  of fishermen  frequently  arrested  due  to  crossing  of  maritime  boundaries  with  neighboring countries; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  and  (b):  The  Department  of  Fisheries,  Ministry  of  Fisheries,  Animal  Husbandry  and Dairying,  Government  of  India  (DoF,  MoFAHD,  GoI)  has  set  up  the  'Central  Institute  of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training' (CIFNET), which provides training to fishermen and creates trained manpower for manning the ocean going fishing vessels. The institute has its Head Quarters at Kochi and two more units at Chennai and Visakhapatnam. The institute through outreach/in-house training  programmes, has been conducting various short term courses for the fishermen of the coastal states/Union Territories (UTs) on Safety at Sea, Seamanship and Navigation, Responsible Fishing and Electronic Equipment for Navigation and Communication at Sea etc.

(c) and (d): Government of India attaches highest priority to the safety, security and welfare of Indian fishermen and has been taking up the fishermen issues at the highest level with neighboring country. The DoF, MoFAHD, GoI has approved a project with total cost of Rs. 364 Crore under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for the National Rollout of Vessel Communication and Support System including installation of transponders on one lakh fishing vessels in all coastal States and UTs. The transponders are being fitted in the fishing vessels with 100% Government assistance. The transponders have geo-fencing features and give alerts to the fishermen upon approaching to or crossing over the maritime boundary so as to prevent such incidences of crossing the maritime boundary.

The Government of India has established the bilateral Joint Working Groups (JWGs), such as  India-Bangladesh  and  India-Sri  Lanka  JWGs  to  foster  cooperation  with  neighboring countries in fisheries sector and to address the fishermen related issues apart from the efforts taken  up  through  diplomatic  channels.  Besides,  the  Fisheries  Department  of  coastal States/UTs in coordination with Indian Coast Guard are regularly conducting the community interaction programs (CIPs) with the fishermen to appraising them about importance of safety of life at sea, carriage of life saving equipment, usage of portable communication sets and are also impressed not to cross the maritime boundary.

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