Lok Sabha Question No. 4029 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-17
Subject: National Integrated Policy for Fishing Community
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4029 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 TH  MARCH, 2026

## National Integrated Policy for Fishing Community

## 4029.   Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  prepared  a  national  integrated  policy  addressing education,  livelihood,  housing  and  social  security  of  fishing  communities  and  if  so,  the details thereof and if not, the reasons for continued sectoral neglect;
- (b)  whether  income  levels  of  traditional  fishermen  have  been  officially  assessed  after implementation of existing schemes, if so, the findings thereof and if not, the reasons for absence of measurable outcome evaluation mechanisms, State-wise;
- (c) whether educational scholarships and hostel facilities are provided for children of fishing communities to reduce school dropouts, if so, the details of allocation and beneficiaries and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether skill-development programmes linked to modern fishing technology, processing, export management and marine entrepreneurship have been expanded in the country,  if  so,  the  outcomes  of  the  training  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons  for  limited outreach; and
- (e) whether institutional credit access through Kisan Credit Cards (KCCs) and cooperative financing has effectively reduced dependence on private lenders among fishermen and if so, the assessment reports in this regard and if not, the corrective steps proposed by the Government in this regard?

## 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 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 the country with an investment of Rs.20,750 crore in all States/ Union Territories. The scheme inter-alia envisages several welfare  activities  for  fishers  and  fish  farmers  including  (i)  Group  Accidental  Insurance Coverage of Rs.5.00 lakh against death or permanent total disability, Rs. 2.50 lakh against permanent  partial  disability  and  Rs.  25,000  against  accidental  hospitalization  and  (ii) livelihood and nutritional support for socio-economically backward active traditional fisher's families  for  conservation  of  fish  resources  during  fishing  ban/lean  period  wherein assistance is provided @Rs.3000/- per fisher during fishing ban/lean period.

Besides, the Government of India with effect from the year 2019 has also extended the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility to fishers and fish farmers to meet their working capital requirements. In order to address the infrastructure requirement for fisheries sector, the Union Government of India during 2018-19 has also created the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) with a total funds size of Rs 7522.48 crore. While no specific survey has been carried out to assess average income of fishers during the last five years, the initiatives taken by the Government of India have been contributing towards augmentation of fish production, productivity, quality to meet the consumer demands and preference  and  export  thereby  attributing  to  enhancement  of  income  of  fishers  &  fish farmers. During the last five years (2020-21 to 2024-25), fish production increased from 141.64 lakh tonne in 2019-20 to 197.75 lakh tonne in 2024-25. Similarly, seafood exports have also increased from Rs.46,666 crore (2019-20) to Rs.62,408 crore (2024-25).

(d): PMMSY inter-alia lays special focus on training, skill development, skill up-gradation and capacity building through trainings, awareness building programmes and exposure visits to stakeholders  especially fishers, fish farmers, fish workers, fish  vendors, entrepreneurs, officials, fisheries Cooperatives and members of FFPOs etc. Under this component, exclusive training is provided to marine fishermen on Deep Sea fishing, onboard  fish  handling  by  Central  Institute  of  Fisheries  Nautical  &  Engineering  Training (CIFNET). A total 8040 fishermen have been trained through these programs for enhancing India's  capacity  building  in  Deep  Sea  fishing.  Fishery  Survey  of  India  (FSI)  under Department of Fisheries, Government of India also conduct comprehensive skill training and capacity-building programmes to promote adoption of deep-sea fishing technologies, with special emphasis on deep-sea tuna longlining and sashimi-grade tuna handling. FSI also provide hands-on exposure to monofilament longline operations (setting and hauling), gear configuration, and efficient deck management. The National Institute of Fisheries Post Harvest Technology and Training (NIFPHATT) also provides training in best post-harvest fish utilization and consumption with the least post-harvest losses and delivery of the best quality fish and fish products.

(e): The Department of Fisheries,  Government of  India  has  been  actively  promoting Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) for fishers and fish farmers through various nationwide initiatives since the scheme was extended to the fisheries sector. To achieve saturation targets under KCC  fisheries,  States/UTs  have  designated  field  officers,  officials,  and  local  resource persons from various departments and agencies, including State Fisheries Departments and Fisheries Cooperatives, to provide handholding support for the identification of eligible fishers  and  fish  farmers,  documentation,  and  facilitating  loan  access.  States/UTs  have been advised to regularly monitor the progress of KCC saturation, follow up with banks to resolve any issues, and ensure early sanction of KCC to eligible beneficiaries.

Regular  review  meetings  have  been  conducted  with  all  stakeholders  to  assess  the progress of KCC saturation drives. The DoF has been making concerted efforts to increase coverage of fishers and fish farmers by organizing special drives, sensitization programs, mass  and  individual  extension  activities  such  as  pamphlet  distribution,  awareness campaigns  in  vernacular  languages,  newspaper  articles,  advertisements,  and  other outreach measures.