The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, under its flagship scheme namely, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) being implemented with highest ever estimated investment of Rs. 20,050 crore in fisheries sector for a period of 5 years with effect from the financial year 2020-21, introduced a component namely, “Support for Acquisition of Deep-Sea Fishing vessels for traditional fishermen” to provide financial assistance to traditional fishermen for promoting deep-sea fishing in the coastal States and Union Territories (UTs) including Tamil Nadu. An amount of Rs. 9,484.00 lakh has been approved for release to States/UTs including Tamil Nadu, under the sub-component, “Support for acquisition of Deep-Sea Fishing vessels for traditional fishermen” of PMMSY, for procurement of 273 Deep Sea Fishing Vessels during FY 2020-21 and FY 2021-22.
Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) on “Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries” the Department of Fisheries, Government of India had released an amount of Rs. 1,038.40 lakh to States/UTs under the sub-component, “Assistance for Deep Sea Fishing” for procurement of 139 number of Deep Sea Fishing vessels during 2019-20.
The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, provides assistance to coastal States/UTs including Tamil Nadu, for providing gadgets to fishermen to protect them against natural calamities like high tides, heavy storm, gale winds and cyclonic storms under PMMSY and has approved for release of an amount of Rs. 1,403.57 lakh to Coastal States/UTs including Tamil Nadu, for providing 14,800 number of Communication and/or tracking devices to fishers during FY 2020-21 and FY 2021-22. Government of India also approved for release of an amount of Rs. 449.60 lakh to Coastal States/UTs including Tamil Nadu, for providing 1,351 safety kits to fishermen under PMMSY during FY 2020-21 and FY 2021-22.
In addition, an amount of Rs. 18.01 crore has also been sanctioned and released to the Government of Tamil Nadu for fitment of 4,997 number of transponders on board mechanized fishing vessels of Tamil Nadu under the sub-component “Establishment and Operation of Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)” of Blue Revolution Scheme during 2019-20.
PMMSY inter alia supports for insurance coverage for fishers which 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 entire premium amount is shared between the Centre and State as per the funding pattern of the PMMSY in the ratio of 60:40. A total number of 5,23,237 fishermen from Tamil Nadu are covered under the ‘insurance for fishers’ sub-component of the PMMSY Scheme.
This information was given by The Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Shri. Parshottam Rupala in the Rajya Sabha in a written reply today.
MV/MG/DK