Lok Sabha Question No. 2478 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-10
Subject: Housing Facilities to the Fishermen Community
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Ramashankar  Vidharthi Rajbhar

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

## LOKSABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†2478 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH DECEMBER, 2024

## Housing Facilities to the Fishermen Community

## †2478. Shri Ramashankar Rajbhar:

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

- (a) whether the Government provides housing facilities to the fishermen communities and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of Schemes being run by the Government for the fisheries sector; and
- (c) the protective measures stipulated to be taken for the welfare of fishermen?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries,  Animal  Husbandry  and Dairying,  Government  of  India  has  taken  several  initiatives  for  holistic  development  of fisheries and aquaculture in the country. The details of the schemes implemented by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India for development of fisheries and aquaculture sector are furnished below:

- (i)  The Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries implemented for a period of 5 years from FY2015-16 to FY2019-20  with  a  central  outlay  of  Rs.3000  crore  and  this  scheme  infused  an investment of about Rs 5000 crore into the fisheries sector.
- (ii) In  order  to  address the  infrastructure  requirement for fisheries sector, Fisheries & Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) was launched in the year 201819 with a total funds size of Rs 7522.48 crore. FIDF provides concessional finance to the  Eligible  Entities  (EEs),  including  State  Governments/Union  Territories  for development of  identified  fisheries  infrastructure  facilities.    FIDF  provides  interest subvention up to 3% per annum for the repayment period of 12 years inclusive of moratorium of 2 years. Total 132 fisheries related infrastructure proposals of various States, Union Territories and private Entrepreneurs with a total outlay of Rs 5794.09 crore have been approved so far under the FIDF.
- (iii)  The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) implemented for a period of five years 5 years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 with an estimated investment of Rs. 20,050 crore. This scheme designed to address the critical gaps in fish production and productivity, quality, technology, post-harvest infrastructure and management, modernisation  and  strengthening  of  fisheries  value  chain,  establishing  a  robust fisheries management framework and fishers' welfare. During the last four years (FY 2020-21 to FY 2023-24) and current financial year (FY 2024-25), projects worth of Rs. 20864.29 crore with Central share of Rs. 8871.42 crore have been approved for various States/UTs and other implementing agencies under PMMSY.
- (iv)  To  make  the  fisheries  sector  resilient  and  incentivize  adoption  of  efficiencies  in fisheries value chain, Department of Fisheries, Government of India is implementing a Central Sector Sub-scheme "Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah Yojana (PMMKSSY)" under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with an investment of Rs. 6000 crore. PMMKSSY aims at formalization of the fisheries sector, incentivizing the aquaculture insurance, fisheries micro and small enterprises value chain efficiency, adoption of safety and quality system for safe fish production etc.
- (v)  Additionally, the Government of India with effect from the financial year 2018-19 has extended the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility to fishers and fish famers to help them to  meet their working capital requirements. A total of 4.39 lakh KCCs with a loan amount of Rs 2810 crore have been sanctioned so far fishers and fish farmers in the country including  2,44,506 fishers and fish farmers in Tamil Nadu.

Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries, a total 18,886 houses for fishermen were sanctioned and central funds of Rs 104.69 was released for the purpose to various States and UTs.  While the  provision  for  providing  housing facilities  to  the  fishermen  communities  has  not  been envisaged under PMMSY, this scheme inter-alia envisages several welfare related activities for fishers and fish farmers including; (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, (iii) livelihood and nutritional support for socioeconomically backward active traditional fishers families for conservation of fish resources during fishing ban/lean period.  Further, a special plan with an outlay of Rs. 364 crore for providing indigenously developed transponders on free of cost to one lakh fishing vessels to ensure safety and security of fishers while fishing at sea. The transponders with multiple benefits are also enabling the fishermen to have two-way communication, send alerts during any  emergency  and  cyclones  and  also  disseminate  the  information  on  potential  fishing zones. Besides, safety kits consisting Global Positioning System (GPS), lifejackets, lifebuoy, other life-saving appliances, search & rescue beacons, a radar reflector, first-aid box, a set of flares, backup battery etc are also provided to the fishers to ensure safety and security of fishermen while fishing at sea has also been provided under PMMSY.