Question : COMPENSATION TO FISHERMEN

(a) whether the Government of India gives any compensation to the fishermen who are released from Pakistan without their boats;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) if not, the reason therefor?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SMT. PRENEET KAUR)

(a): According to the information provided by the concerned authorities, in order to ameliorate the hardship caused due to continued detention of Indian fishing vessels by Pakistani authorities and to address its negative impact on the livelihood of fishermen, Hon’ble Prime Minister had, in September 2007, announced a relief package, which envisages
(a) One time ex-gratia amount of Rs. 3.0 lakh to the next of kin of each person held in captivity in Pakistan; and
(b) an outright grant of Rs. 30,000/- for smaller fishing boats and a grant of Rs. 5.0 lakh for trawlers, to the owners of each boat/trawler seized by Pakistan. The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) had been asked to implement the package. While announcing the package, it was directed that the Ministry of Finance would liaise with the implementation agency, and the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, in order to develop a suitable soft loan package for replacement of fishing boats.

(b) & (c): In accordance with the decision of the Government of India, the concerned department had, in March 2009, launched a scheme of soft loan package for Replacement of Fishing Vessels held in captivity in Pakistan at a total cost of Rs. 19.56 crore. Under this scheme, capital subsidy of 30% cost of each vessel subject to a ceiling of Rs. 6 lakh will be provided to each vessel owner for replacement of fishing vessels seized by Pakistan. Fishing vessels of size up to 20 meters having valid fishing license/registration from the State Government will be eligible to get the benefit under the scheme. The scheme is implemented by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA). The concerned Department has also provided first the instalment of Rs. 100 lakh to MPEDA in March 2009 for implementation of this scheme.