Question : Welfare of Traditional Fishermen

(a) the actions taken by the Government for the welfare of traditional and marine fishermen in the country;
(b) the details of various welfare measures taken by the Government in this regard, so far;
(c) the number of fishermen from various States including Kerala who have been benefited from the centrally sponsored saving-cum-relief scheme for fishermen;
(d) the details of the amount distributed under the aforesaid scheme so far in various States including Kerala;
(e) whether the Government will take any measures to ensure that the welfare measures reach the deserving people, if so, the details thereof; and
(f) whether the Government is ready to constitute a reviewing committee comprising Members of Parliament from coastal areas to review the status of the implementation of such schemes, if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRYAND DAIRYING

(SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI)
(a) and (b): The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme ‘Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries’ which has a component on “National Scheme of Welfare of Fishermen” with following sub-components:
(i) Saving-cum Relief (For both Inland and Marine Fishers): under this component assistance is provided @Rs. 3000/- per fishers for three months during fishing ban/lean periods.
(ii) Housing for fishers: This component is being implemented in alignment with Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) guidelines, wherein, financial assistance @ Rs. 1.20 lakh is provided to fishermen in for General States and @ Rs. 1.30 lakh is provided to fishermen in Himalayan and North Eastern States.
(iii) Other basic amenities for fishers (Drinking water facility, Construction of Community Hall): Assistance is provided @ Rs. 0.50 lakh in General States and Rs. 0.60 lakh in North Eastern States & Himalayan States for tube well, while Rs. 4.00 lakh for community hall.

(iv) Group Accident Insurance for Active Fishermen [converged with the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) w.e.f. 1st June, 2017]. This component is being implemented in convergence with Pradhan Mantri Surakshya Bima Yojana (PMSBY) to provide insurance coverage to active fishermen registered with the State Governments and Union Territories. The insurance coverage under the scheme includes (i) Rs.2.00 lakh against death or permanent total disability, (ii) Rs.1.00 lakh for partial permanent disability. This scheme is being implemented by National Federation of Fishers Cooperatives Ltd. (FISHCOPFED).
The assistance to be provided in all the aforesaid components of National Scheme of Welfare of Fishermen are shared in the ratio of 50:50 for General States, 80:20 for North Eastern States and Himalayan States while 100% for Union Territories, except housing for fishermen where funding pattern is 60:40 for General States and 90:10 for Himalayan and North Eastern States while 100% for Union Territories.
(c) and (d): The details of fishermen benefitted and amount released under the Sub-component ‘Saving-cum-Relief (for both Inland and Marine Fishers)’ of National Scheme on Welfare of Fishermen to various State Governments/Union Territories is at Annexure.
(e) Central funds/ Assistance are released to the State/UT Governments based on the viable proposals and in accordance with the provisions/Guidelines of the CSS. Further, to ensure that the welfare measures reach the deserving beneficiaries, the Department of Fisheries has been advising the States/UTs on regular basis to disburse the financial assistance directly to the beneficiaries account through Direct Befit Transfer (DBT) platform. The States/UTs are also advised time to time to maintain the database of beneficiaries covered under the CSS.
(f) Presently there is no proposal to constitute a review committee comprising of Members of Parliament from coastal areas to review the status of the implementation of such welfare schemes in the country.