Executive Summary:
This document is the response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2562 regarding the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) in Tamil Nadu, specifically focusing on benefits to fisherwomen. It details the funds allocated and utilized, the support provided for seaweed farming, and the mechanisms in place for including women in relevant schemes between fiscal years 2020-21 and 2024-25. The response also addresses the evaluation of gender-disaggregated benefits under PMMSY in Tamil Nadu.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **PMMSY Overview:**
* The Department of Fisheries (DoF), Government of India is implementing PMMSY with an estimated investment of Rs. 20,050 crores during FY 2020-21 to 2024-25 in all states/UTs including Tamil Nadu.
* PMMSY aims for holistic development of the fisheries sector, including the welfare of fishers and fish farmers.
* **Financial Allocations and Utilization for Tamil Nadu:**
* Projects totaling Rs. 1158.54 crore, with a central share of Rs. 451.55 crore, have been approved for Tamil Nadu under PMMSY during 2020-2025.
* The Government of Tamil Nadu has utilized Rs. 258.46 crore of the central share for implementing approved projects.
* **Support for Seaweed Farming:**
* Seaweed farming is promoted as a priority activity under PMMSY to support the livelihoods of coastal communities, especially women.
* Subsidies are provided for rafts, monolines, and seed material for seaweed farming.
* Rs.77.31 lakh for 8595 rafts and Rs.123.84 lakh for 2580 monolines have been released under PMMSY to fishers of Tamil Nadu including the women beneficiaries from 2020-21 to 2024-25.
* Training programs for seaweed cultivation have been imparted to 750 fisherwomen during 2018-19.
* A Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu, with a project cost of Rs. 127.71 crore, has been approved under PMMSY. This park is expected to involve 8,821 people and generate employment for up to 18,000 fishermen, especially women and their self-help groups and FFPOs.
* **Beneficiaries:**
* 183,264 fishermen/fish farmers, including women and women self-help groups, have benefited under PMMSY in Tamil Nadu from 2020-21 to 2024-25.
* **Infrastructure Support:**
* Subsidies have been released for:
* Construction of Ice plants: Rs.334.55 lakh to 6 beneficiaries.
* Insulated vehicles: Rs.15.06 crore to 182 beneficiaries.
* Refrigerated vehicles: Rs.1.44 crore to 10 beneficiaries.
* **Gender-Disaggregated Benefit Evaluation:**
* The State Government does not evaluate gender-disaggregated benefits under each component of PMMSY.
* District level officers conduct awareness programs, and beneficiaries (both men and women) are selected based on their willingness and benefit under preferred components of PMMSY.
Impact Analysis:
* **Tamil Nadu Fisherwomen:**
* *Impact:* Beneficiaries of livelihood support through seaweed farming initiatives (training, subsidies for materials), employment opportunities via the Multipurpose Seaweed Park, and inclusion in broader PMMSY schemes.
* *Action Required:* Participate in awareness programs conducted by district-level officers, express their willingness to participate in specific PMMSY components, and utilize the available subsidies and training programs to enhance their livelihoods.
* **Government of Tamil Nadu:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing the approved PMMSY projects, ensuring the proper utilization of funds, and reporting on the progress of the scheme.
* *Action Required:* Continue implementing approved projects, ensure allocated funds are utilized effectively, participate in awareness programs, and disseminate information about available schemes and benefits to intended beneficiaries, improve data collection.
* **Department of Fisheries, Government of India:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for overall monitoring, evaluation, and funding of the PMMSY scheme, including initiatives in Tamil Nadu.
* *Action Required:* Continue supporting and monitoring the implementation of PMMSY in Tamil Nadu, consider ways to improve the evaluation of gender-disaggregated benefits, and ensure continued support for seaweed farming and related infrastructure projects.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): A scheme by the Government of India for the holistic development of the fisheries sector.
Tamil Nadu: A state in India, and a key focus of the policy regarding fisheries and related schemes.
Department of Fisheries, Government of India (DoF, GoI): The department responsible for implementing the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
Seaweed Farming: A priority activity under PMMSY, aimed at supporting the livelihood of coastal communities, especially women, through subsidy on rafts, monolines and seed material.
Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu: A project approved under PMMSY with a cost of Rs. 127.71 crore to support seaweed farming and its value chain in Tamil Nadu.
SHRI GEORGE KURIAN: Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, responsible for answering the Lok Sabha question.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the unstarred question was raised.
Fisheries sector: The industry and activities related to fish production, productivity, quality, technology, postharvest infrastructure, and marketing, which PMMSY aims to develop holistically.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2562
TO BE ANSWERED ON 5th AUGUST, 2025
Fisher-Women in Tamil Nadu
2562. Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian:
Will the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying be pleased to state:
(a) total amount released and utilized under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
(PMMSY) for Tamil Nadu during the last five years;
(b) the number of women‑led households or women fisher in Tamil Nadu receiving benefits (like
seaweed training or asset aid) under the scheme;
(c) the manner in which the Government ensures targeted inclusion of Tamil Nadu women in
schemes like Seaweed Farming and cold chain grants; and
(d) the mechanisms are in place to periodically evaluate gender‑disaggregated benefits under
PMMSY in Tamil Nadu?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(SHRI GEORGE KURIAN)
(a): The Department of Fisheries, Government of India (DoF, GoI) is implementing Pradhan Mantri
Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with an estimated investment of Rs. 20,050 crores during FY 2020-
21 to 2024-25 in all states/Union Territories including Tamil Nadu. PMMSY aims for holistic development
of fisheries sector including welfare of fishers and fish farmers, and it is designed to address critical gaps
in the fisheries value chain from fish production, productivity and quality to technology, post-harvest
infrastructure and marketing etc. Based on the proposals received from Government of Tamil Nadu,
projects with total cost of Rs. 1158.54 crore with central share of Rs. 451.55 crore have been approved
under PMMSY to Tamil Nadu during 2020-2025. As informed by Government of Tamil Nadu, out of total
central share Rs. 258.46 crore have been utilized by the State for implementation of the approved projects
under PMMSY.
(b) to (d): DoF, GoI is promoting seaweed farming as one of the priority activities under PMMSY in coastal
States and Union Territories including Tamil Nadu to support livelihood of coastal communities especially
women beneficiaries. The subsidy is extended for purchase of rafts, monolines and seed material for
Seaweed farming. From 2020-21 to 2024-25, Rs.77.31 lakh for 8595 rafts and Rs.123.84 lakh for 2580
monolines have been released under PMMSY to fishers of Tamil Nadu including the women
beneficiaries. Under the schemes of Government of India, training programs for seaweed cultivation have
also been imparted to 750 fisherwomen during 2018-19. The DoF, GoI on 12.12.2022 has approved a
Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu with project cost of Rs. 127.71 crore under PMMSY to support
seaweed farming and its value chain. The seaweed park envisages to involve and engage manpower of
8,821 people in various activities to promote their livelihoods. The initiative is expected to generate
employment for up to 18,000 fishermen, especially women and their self-help groups and FFPOs.
As informed by Government of Tamil Nadu, during last five years, (2020-21 to 2024-25), 1,83,264
numbers of fishermen/fish farmers including women and women self-help groups are benefited under
PMMSY in Tamil Nadu. From 2020-21 to 2024-25, Rs.334.55 lakh to 6 beneficiaries for Construction of
Ice plants, Rs.15.06 crore to 182 beneficiaries for insulated vehicles, Rs.1.44 crore to 10 beneficiaries
for Refrigerated vehicles have been released as subsidy. Government of Tamil Nadu has also informed
that under PMMSY scheme, the State Government does not evaluate gender- disaggregated benefits
under each components. In this regard, the district level officers are providing regular awareness
programmes on various Government schemes and programmes. Based on this, the beneficiaries (both
men and women) are selected upon their willingness and got benefited under the preferred components
of PMMSY scheme through concerned district subordinate office.
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