Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) since 2020-21. This scheme aims to bring about a Blue Revolution through sustainable fisheries development with a focus on fishermen's welfare across all States and Union Territories. An independent agency is conducting a comprehensive review and evaluation of PMMSY to assess its impact, including improvements in living conditions and income for fishermen.
Key Points / Main Content:
Welfare Activities Under PMMSY:
* Provides Group Accidental Insurance Coverage: Rs. 5.00 lakh for death or permanent total disability, Rs. 2.50 lakh for permanent partial disability, and Rs. 25,000 for accidental hospitalization.
* Offers Livelihood and Nutritional Support: Rs.3000 per fisher, with a beneficiary contribution of Rs. 1500, for three months during the fishing ban period for socioeconomically backward traditional fisher families to support fish resource conservation.
* Supports Installation of Transponders: A total outlay of Rs. 364.00 Crore for installing transponders on 1,00,000 fishing vessels in all coastal States and Union Territories to enable two-way communication during emergencies at sea.
* Provides Fishing Vessel Insurance Support.
* Supports Replacement of Nets and Boats: Also supports acquisition and upgradation of fishing vessels for deep-sea fishing.
Infrastructure and Capacity Building:
* Supports Development: Fishing harbors, fish landing centers, cold chains, and market infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses and enhance income.
* Facilitates Training and Skill Development.
* Promotes Formation of Fisheries Cooperatives and Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs) to empower stakeholders.
Diversification and Sustainable Practices:
* Promotes Diversification through seaweed farming, reservoir cage culture, ornamental fisheries, and mariculture.
* Implements Development: Climate-resilient coastal fishermen villages and model coastal fishing villages for targeted interventions and sustainable resource management.
Impact Analysis:
Fishermen and their Families:
* Impact: Aims to improve living conditions, increase income, provide insurance coverage, and offer livelihood support during fishing bans.
* Action Required: To participate in the PMMSY scheme and utilize the available resources, including insurance, livelihood support, and training programs.
State Governments and Union Territories:
* Impact: Required to implement and support the PMMSY scheme within their jurisdictions to promote sustainable fisheries development and welfare of fishermen.
* Action Required: Facilitate the implementation of PMMSY, including identifying beneficiaries, providing necessary infrastructure, and ensuring effective monitoring and evaluation of the scheme.
Department of Fisheries:
* Impact: Responsible for the overall implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the PMMSY scheme at the national level.
* Action Required: Continue implementing PMMSY, review the findings of the independent evaluation, and make necessary adjustments to enhance the scheme's effectiveness.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying: The Indian government ministry responsible for fisheries, animal husbandry, and dairying.
LOK SABHA: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
National Scheme of Welfare of Fishermen: A welfare scheme for fishermen and their families in India, abbreviated as NSWF.
SHRI GEORGE KURIAN: Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana: A flagship scheme (PMMSY) to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector.
Blue Revolution: A significant increase in aquaculture production.
Coastal States: Indian states with a coastline.
Union Territories: A type of administrative division in India.
Government of India
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
Department of Fisheries
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4357
TO BE ANSWERED ON 19th August, 2025
‘National Scheme of Welfare of Fishermen’
4357. Km. Sudha R:
Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING be pleases to State:
(a) whether the Government has conducted any study on the benefits that reached to the fishermen
and their families under the National Scheme of Welfare of Fishermen (NSWF) since 2020;
(b) whether the living conditions and the income of fishermen increased by NSWF since 2020; and
(c) if so, the details thereof, year and State-wise?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(SHRI GEORGE KURIAN)
(a) to (c): The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is
implementing a flagship scheme ‘Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana” (PMMSY) since 2020-
21 to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries
sector with welfare of fishermen in the focus with in all States/ Union Territories. The scheme inter-
alia envisages several welfare related activities for fishers and fish farmers including (i) Group
Accidental Insurance Coverage of Rs.5.00 lakh against death or permanent total disability, Rs. 2.50
lakh against permanent partial disability and Rs. 25,000 against accidental hospitalization (ii)
livelihood and nutritional support for socio-economically backward active traditional fishers families
for conservation of fish resources during fishing ban/lean period wherein assistance is provided
@Rs.3000/- per fishers and beneficiaries’ own contribution of Rs.1500/- for three months during
fishing ban/lean period, (iii) installation of transponders on 1,00,000 fishing vessels in all Coastal
States and Union Territories with a total outlay of Rs. 364.00 Crore with two-way communication
during any emergency while the fishers are at sea, (iv) fishing vessel insurance support, (v)
replacement of net and boat as well support for acquisition and upgradation of fishing vessel for
deep sea fishing.
Besides, PMMSY also supports the development of fishing harbours, fish landing centres, cold
chains, and market infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses and enhance income, training, skill
development, and formation of fisheries cooperatives, Fish Farmer Producer Organizations
(FFPOs) to empower stakeholders with modern techniques and collective bargaining power.
Moreover, PMMSY promotes diversification through seaweed farming, reservoir cage culture,
ornamental fisheries, and mariculture, while implementing development of climate resilient coastal
fishermen village and model coastal fishing villages for targeted interventions and sustainable
resource management to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for coastal fishers communities
and enhance their participation in fisheries value chains.
Further, The Department of Fisheries has undertaken a comprehensive review and evaluation of
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada yojana(PMMSY) through an Independent Agency to assess its
impact and outcome including improvement in living conditions and increase in income of
fishermen.
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