Question : Kisan Credit Card to Fishermen

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

(a) whether the Government is planning to extend the facility of Kisan Credit Card to all fishermen in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the plan prepared for the same;

(c) Whether the Government is aware that fishermen are the most vulnerable section in the country to climate change and huge employment loss; and

(d) if so, whether the Government will also consider a job guarantee scheme for fishermen for ensuring minimum employment in a year?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a) & (b)Yes Sir, the Government of India has extended the facility of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to the fishers, fish farmers and animal husbandry farmers to help them meet their working capital needs. The KCC facility will help fisheries and animal husbandry farmers to meet their shortterm credit requirements of rearing of animals, poultry birds, fish, shrimp, other aquatic organisms and capture of fish. The detailed guidelines for issuance of KCCs to animal husbandry farmers and fisheries laying down the eligibility criterion and scale of finance etc. has been issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 4th February, 2019 and a copy of the same is furnished at Annexure-I. Further, a special drive was launched w.e.f. 1st June 2020 to provide KCC to the farmers, with special focus on PM-KISAN beneficiaries, Animal Husbandry farmers, fish farmers and fishermen. Further, the Ministry of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry and Dairying in association with the Department of Financial Services is pursuing the matter with all the State Governments/UTsand the State Level Bankers Committees (SLBCs) to spread awareness on the KCC facility and to canvass applications through special campaigns. The KCC Campaign is being held from 15th November, 2021 to 15th February, 2022 for providing Kisan Credit Card facility to all eligible Fisheries Farmers. Till 15th November, 2021, a total of 61,650KCCs have been issued to the fisher and fish farmers.

(c) and (d) The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has implementing a flagship scheme namely “Pradhan MantriMatsyaSampadaYojana (PMMSY)to bring aboutsustainable development of fisheries sector in Indiawith an estimated investment of Rs. 20,050 crore for a period of 5 years from financial year 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 in all States/Union Territories as a part of AatmaNirbhar Bharat Package. The scheme focuses on enhancing fish production and productivityand on increasinggainful employment opportunities, both direct and indirect, in fisheries and aquaculture sector for fishermen and other stakeholders such as Fish farmers, fish workers and fish vendors.