**Executive Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to questions regarding the challenges faced by Primary Fishermen Cooperative Societies, particularly in non-coastal areas. It outlines the support provided through schemes like PMMSY and PMMKSSY, the roles of state governments in addressing complaints, and ongoing monitoring efforts. The document also mentions the plan to support the formation of 12,000 fisheries cooperatives from 2024-25 to 2033-34.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Support for Fisheries Cooperative Societies:**
* The Department of Fisheries actively supports the formation of Fisheries Cooperative Societies across the country, including non-coastal and rural areas, under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
* Approval has been granted for the development of 2000 existing fisheries cooperatives as Fish Farmers Producers Organisations (FFPOs) and the formation of 195 new FFPOs.
* An action plan by the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) aims to support the formation of 12,000 fisheries cooperatives in uncovered panchayats/villages with large water bodies/coastal areas over ten years (2024-25 to 2033-34) in two phases.
* The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi SahaYojana (PMMKSSY), a sub-scheme of PMMSY, intends to support the formalization and strengthening of 5500 primary fisheries cooperatives with mentoring, capacity building, and need-based financial support.
* **Handling of Grievances and Mismanagement:**
* The Department of Fisheries has not received complaints or representations regarding interference, mismanagement, or deviation from scheme guidelines.
* Complaints are addressed at the State/UT level, as cooperative societies fall under the purview of the Cooperative Societies Act and waterbody ownership rests with respective States/UTs.
* **Monitoring Mechanisms:**
* Cooperatives are a state subject, governed by the Cooperative Society Act of each State/UT, which includes a monitoring mechanism to ensure fair and transparent implementation of government schemes.
* **Safeguarding Fishermen's Interests:**
* The Department of Fisheries, in collaboration with the Ministry of Cooperation, conducts periodic review meetings with States/UTs to ensure the smooth functioning of cooperative societies.
* States/UTs are encouraged to avail support by registering on the National Fisheries Digital Platform and the National Cooperative Database of the Ministry of Cooperation.
**Impact Analysis:**
**State Governments/Union Territories:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for addressing complaints related to interference, mismanagement, or deviation from scheme guidelines within their respective jurisdictions.
* *Action Required:* Implement and monitor the Cooperative Society Act effectively and participate in review meetings conducted by the Department of Fisheries and the Ministry of Cooperation.
**Primary Fishermen Cooperative Societies:**
* *Impact:* Can benefit from schemes like PMMSY and PMMKSSY, including support for formation, development, mentoring, capacity building, and financial assistance.
* *Action Required:* Participate in the schemes, register on the National Fisheries Digital Platform and National Cooperative Database, and adhere to the guidelines of the Cooperative Societies Act of their respective State/UT.
**Department of Fisheries:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for overall policy and scheme implementation, monitoring, and coordination with State/UT governments.
* *Action Required:* Continue to provide support through schemes like PMMSY and PMMKSSY, conduct periodic review meetings, and encourage registration on relevant platforms.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying: The Indian government ministry responsible for fisheries, animal husbandry, and dairying.
Primary Fishermen Cooperative Society: A cooperative society formed by fishermen at the primary level, managing shared resources.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): A flagship scheme by the Indian government to develop the fisheries sector.
Fish Farmers Producers Organisations (FFPOs): Organizations formed by fish farmers to enhance their collective bargaining power and access to resources.
National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB): An organization that supports the development of the fisheries sector in India.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi SahaYojana (PMMKSSY): A sub-scheme of PMMSY focused on strengthening primary fisheries cooperatives.
State List of Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India: A list in the Indian Constitution that gives state governments exclusive power to legislate on specific matters, including cooperative societies.
National Fisheries Digital Platform: A digital platform to support the fisheries sector.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2570
TO BE ANSWERED ON 5th August, 2025
Primary Fishermen Cooperative Society
2570. Shri Maddila Gurumoorthy:
Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING be pleased to
state:
a) whether the Government is aware that the Primary Fishermen Cooperative Societies in
non-coastal areas, which manage shared resources such as leased ponds and fishing
grounds, are facing livelihood challenges;
b) whether the Government has received any complaints or representations regarding
interference, mismanagement, or deviation from the scheme guidelines affecting these
societies;
c) whether there is any central vigilance or monitoring mechanism to ensure that Primary
Fishermen Cooperative Societies operate in a fair, transparent, and sustainable manner
in accordance with the objectives of the Government schemes;
d) if so, the details of such a mechanism and the actions taken in recent cases; and
e) whether the Government will consider establishing a robust redressal system and strict
compliance monitoring to safeguard the interests of poor fishermen and their
cooperatives, particularly in non-coastal and rural areas?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(SHRI GEORGE KURIAN)
(a) & (b) The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
under the ongoing Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana(PMMSY) actively supports for
formation of Fisheries Cooperative Societies across the country including those present in non-
coastal and rural areas. The Department of Fisheries has accorded approval for development
of existing 2000 fisheries cooperative as Fish Farmers Producers Organisations (FFPOs) and
formation of new 195 FFPOs. The Department of Fisheries through National Fisheries
Development Board (NFDB) has formulated an action plan to support the formation of 12,000
fisheries co-operatives in uncovered panchayats/villages with large water bodies/coastal areas
over a period of ten years from the year 2024-25 to 2033-34 in two phases i.e 6000 from 2024-
25 to 2028-29 & 6000 from 2028-29 to 2033-34. In addition, the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan
Samridhi Saha-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) a sub-scheme of PMMSY envisages to support
formalisation and strengthening of 5500 primary fisheries cooperatives with mentoring,
capacity building and need based financial support. Further, the Department has not received
any complaints or representation regarding interference, mismanagement, or deviation from
the scheme guidelines as the cooperative societies are under the purview of Cooperative
Societies Act and the ownership of waterbodies are vested to respective State/UTs and
accordingly, the complaints are addressed at State/UTs level.(c)&(d) The Cooperative societies is a state subject under Entry 32 of the State List of Seventh
Schedule of the Constitution of India. As such, the Cooperatives operating in each State or
UTs are governed by Cooperative Society Act of that particular state having monitoring
mechanism to ensure fair and transparent means to implement the Government schemes.
(e) To safeguard the interests of poor fishermen and their cooperatives in the Country
including in non-coastal and rural areas, the Department of Fisheries in collaboration with
Ministry of Cooperation periodically conducts review meeting with State/UTs, so as to ensure
smooth functioning of cooperative societies and also encourage them to avail support through
registering on National Fisheries Digital Platform and National Cooperative Database of
Ministry of Cooperation.
****