Parliament Question: Assessment of Coastal Community Development Initiatives

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4677 ANSWERED ON 20.03.2026 ASSESSMENT OF COASTAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES

4677. SHRI GANESH SINGH:

Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state: प(cid:517)न,पोत प(cid:303)रवहन और जलमाग(cid:330) मं(cid:361)ी

(a) whether the Government has undertaken a beneficiary-wise assessment of coastal community development initiatives, particularly those aimed at improving livelihoods through skill development, upgradation of traditional occupations (fisheries, boat operations, coastal tourism) and diversification of income sources, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has trained coastal youth, fishers and workers under the SagarmalaProgramme including the Sagarmala Skill Development Programme and Centres of Excellence in Maritime and Shipbuilding, if so, the details thereof;

(c) the number of beneficiaries trained, certified and placed during the last five years, State/UT-wise; and

(d) the measurable outcomes of the said initiatives in terms of improved employability, income enhancement, transition from informal to formal jobs and increased participation of women and traditional coastal communities in the maritime value chain? ANSWER MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a) Government has undertaken beneficiary‑level and district‑level assessments to evaluate coastal community development initiatives, focused on skill development, fisheries enhancement, traditional occupation upgradation, and livelihood diversification.

A comprehensive Human Resource and Skill Requirement Study covering 21 coastaldistricts was completed to map existing skills, training infrastructure, and gaps, forming the basis of targeted training and livelihood interventions. Further, the fishing harbour development projects undergo socio‑economic impact assessments by implementing agencies to ensure benefits to artisanal fishers and other dependent communities.

These assessments are included in district-level action plans implemented by state governments, enabling evidence‑based support for skill upgradation, marine occupation diversification, coastal tourism promotion, and livelihood opportunities for coastal households.

(b) to (c) Under Sagarmala Programme, skill development has been implemented throughconvergence with DDU-GKY to train coastal youth maritime sector employment.

Centre for Excellence in Maritime and Shipbuilding (CEMS) has been established to provide industry-relevant training and certification. The number of beneficiaries trained, certified and placed during the last five years under the Sagarmala-DDUGKY convergence program and CEMS are at Annexure-I and Annexure-II respectively.

(d) The initiatives have led to measurable improvement in employability and livelihoods, with over 1,978 candidates trained and 1,143 placed in Phase I, and 7,605 trained with 3,127 placed in Phase II under the Sagarmala–DDU‑GKY convergence.

Complementary interventions such as fishing harbour development, coastal tourism and training byCEMShave enhanced income opportunities and increased participation of women and traditional coastal communities.Annexure-I State-wise candidates trained/ certified/ placed under Sagarmala-DDUGKY Convergence Program in last 5 years FY 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 (till

17.03.2026) State/UT Trained Certifie Place Traine Certifie Place Trained Certifie Place Traine Certifie Place TraineCertified Place d d d d d d d d d d d d Andaman 0 0 0 0 0 0 70 61 0 105 23 24 55 95 14 & Nicobar Islands Andhra 368 213 229 1409 288 858 743 1767 857 61 0 0 0 0 0 Pradesh Gujarat 212 0 5 180 205 122 232 73 249 392 187 150 0 113 151 Karnataka 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kerala 0 0 6 0 0 2 0 0 4 663 368 245 371 287 277 Maharashtr 0 0 0 0 0 0 66 91 0 661 487 264 208 34 142 a Odisha 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Puducherr 0 0 0 0 0 0 62 26 12 145 79 65 173 190 91 y Tamil 117 53 130 53 25 28 151 18 88 158 95 168 0 110 17 Nadu Total 697 266 371 1642 518 101 1374 2036 121 2185 1239 916 807 829 692 0 0Annexure-II Candidates trained by CEMS in last 5 years State Trained Certified Placed Maharashtra 100 100 75 Karnataka 25 25 21 Tamil Nadu 125 125 102 Andhra Pradesh 1763 1763 1466 West Bengal 81 81 0 Total 2094 2094 1664 *****