Question : Insurance Coverage for Fishermen

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING ??????????, ???????????????????? be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of increase in loss of workdays, loss and damage of boats and mortality on account of adverse climatic conditions for fishermen, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government is providing insurance coverage for losses suffered due to decline in catching of fish and damage of vessel due to extreme weather conditions;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the fishermen covered, claims received and settled from the year 2016- 2022, State-wise;

(d) whether the Government has any proposal to include them under the insurance coverage in coming days;

(e) if so, the details of the fishermen covered and claims settled so far under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY); and

(f) whether any steps has been taken to increase the literacy level and standard of living of the fishing community in the country, if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

(SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)
(a) to (e): There is no report of increase in loss of workdays with respect to boats and mortality on account of adverse climatic conditions. The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India accords paramount importance for safety and security of fishermen at sea and provides financial assistance under its various schemes and programs. Under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the Department of Fisheries, Government of India provides financial assistance to the State and Union Territories for providing safety kits for fishermen, communication and tracking devices on fishing vessels, Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) devices etc., to ensure safety of fishermen during fishing at sea and adverse climatic condition. PMMSY inter-alia provides support for insurance to fishers against accidental death/ disabilities. PMMSY also has provision to provide insurance premium subvention for fishing vessels. The losses on account of decline in fish catch, if any has not been covered in the insurance that is being provided to fishers. Insurance coverage provided to fishers includes (i) Rs.5,00,000/- against accidental death or permanent total disability, (ii) Rs.2,50,000/- for permanent partial disability and (iii) insurance coverage for hospitalization expenses in the event of accident for a sum of Rs. 25,000/-.The primary objective of insurance schemes implemented under PMMSY to ensure safety and security of fishers and their assets while fishing at sea and also during adverse weather conditions. The insurance premium subvention scheme for fishing vessels is mainly to cover the damage of hull, machinery, accessories including fishing nets, collision liability, total loss, partial loss, and losses caused by Natural Calamities. The State-wise details of Insurance covered to the fisherman, claims received and settled during the period from 2016 to 2022 under the schemes implemented by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India are furnished at Annexure-I.
(f): 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. The policies and schemes/programmes implemented by the Department also accord paramount importance for improvement of socio-economic status of the fishers, which pave towards the better living standard and also augmentation of literacy rate of fishers.
******