**Executive Summary**
This document details initiatives undertaken by the Department of Fisheries to strengthen the livelihoods of traditional fisherfolk in Kerala, including significant financial approvals under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana. It also outlines the new PDS Kerosene Allocation Policy for 2025-26 to 2027-28, which rationalizes kerosene distribution, and highlights a substantial increase in PDS SKO allocation to Kerala.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Fisheries Sector Development in Kerala**
* The Department of Fisheries has approved fisheries developmental projects worth ₹1,418.51 crore for Kerala over the last five years and the current year under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
* Approved activities include:
* Support for deep sea fishing vessels (20 Nos).
* Replacement boats and nets for traditional fishermen (200 Nos).
* Installation of artificial reefs for stock rejuvenation (42 Nos).
* Promotion of alternate/additional livelihood activities such as bivalve cultivation (1,140 Nos), biofloc units (780 Nos), Re-Circulatory Aquaculture System (RAS) units (708 Nos), and ornamental fish rearing/breeding units (822 Nos).
* Installation of cages in reservoirs (493 Nos).
* Livelihood support to fishers during the fishing ban period (1,71,033 Nos).
* Establishment of Integrated Modern Coastal Fishing Villages (09 Nos) and Climate Resilient Coastal Villages (06 Nos).
* Extension support services through Matsya Seva Kendras (10 Nos) and Sagar Mitras (222 Nos).
* Infrastructure for enhancing fish shelf life and value addition, including transport vehicles (468 Nos), fish kiosks (90 Nos), live fish vending centres (77 Nos), and value-added enterprise units (10 Nos).
* The Government of Kerala, through the Kerala Fishermen Welfare Fund Board and Matsyafed, provides interest-free/subsidized loans for fishing inputs, micro-finance for self-help groups, education loans for fishermen's children, financial assistance for fisherwomen, and support for fishing craft/gear procurement.
**PDS Kerosene Allocation Policy**
* PDS Kerosene allocation to States/UTs has been rationalized since 2010-11 due to its polluting nature and adverse public health impacts.
* A new "PDS Kerosene Allocation Policy" has been formulated for 2025-26 to 2027-28.
* Under the new policy, allocation will be made under a single category "PDS SKO" on a quarterly basis for cooking, lighting, and special needs.
* States/UTs have the flexibility to sub-allocate PDS SKO for various purposes, including fisheries, based on their specific requirements.
* Distribution of PDS kerosene within states and to end beneficiaries will be determined by the respective State/UT Governments.
* For the year 2025-26, Kerala has been allocated 22,704 KL of PDS SKO, a significant increase of 419.78% compared to the total allocation of 4,368 KL (subsidized and non-subsidized) for 2024-25.
* Despite quarterly allocations in 2025-26, Kerala uplifted 924 KL in Q1, 5,580 KL in Q2, and 5,544 KL in Q3, with remaining quantities lapsed.
* Since March 1, 2020, there has been NIL under-recovery on a pan-India basis for the retail selling price of PDS kerosene.
**Impact Analysis**
**Traditional Fisherfolk in Kerala**
* **Impact**: Enhanced livelihood opportunities, improved income security, reduced dependence on informal credit, greater access to modern fishing technology and infrastructure, and support during fishing ban periods.
* **Action Required**: To leverage the various schemes and support mechanisms provided for livelihood strengthening, skill development, and financial assistance.
**Government of Kerala**
* **Impact**: Increased allocation of PDS SKO provides flexibility to meet the cooking, lighting, and special needs of its population, including potential use in fisheries-related activities.
* **Action Required**: To develop and implement a sub-allocation strategy for PDS SKO based on the state's specific requirements and to manage the distribution network to end beneficiaries according to the new policy.
**Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG)**
* **Impact**: The new policy standardizes PDS kerosene allocation and distribution, aiming for more efficient and needs-based supply.
* **Action Required**: To monitor the implementation of the PDS Kerosene Allocation Policy and ensure adherence to the NIL under-recovery for retail selling prices.
**End Beneficiaries (General Public/Households)**
* **Impact**: Potential improvements in access to kerosene for cooking and lighting, and for special needs, depending on the sub-allocation by the State Government. The increased allocation to Kerala suggests a possibility of enhanced availability.
* **Action Required**: To receive PDS kerosene based on the distribution criteria set by the Government of Kerala.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): Flagship scheme of the Department of Fisheries for holistic development of the fisheries sector.
PDS Kerosene Allocation Policy: New policy formulated by the Government of India for PDS Kerosene allocation for the period 2025-26 to 2027-28.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying: Government of India ministry responsible for fisheries development.
Kerala: State that is a central focus of the fisheries initiatives and PDS kerosene policy.
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG): Nodal Ministry for PDS Kerosene allocation.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
Traditional Fisher Folk in Kerala
Posted On: 10 MAR 2026 1:35PM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Fisheries, Government of India, through its schemes, policies and programmes has
taken several initiatives for the holistic development of the fisheries sector, including strengthening the
livelihoods of traditional fisherfolk. Under the flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
(PMMSY) implemented by the Department, during the last five years and the current year fisheries
developmental projects amounting to ₹1,418.51 crore has been approved to Kerala.
The approved activities, inter alia, include various livelihood strengthening activities like support for deep
sea fishing vessels (20 Nos), replacement boats and nets to traditional fishermen (200 Nos), installation of
artificial reefs along the coast for stock rejuvenation (42 Nos), promotion of alternate/additional livelihood
activities such as bivalve cultivation (1,140 Nos), biofloc units (780 Nos) and Re-Circulatory Aquaculture
System (RAS) units (708 Nos), Ornamental fish rearing and breeding units (822 Nos), cages in reservoirs
(493 Nos) as well as livelihood support to fishers during the fishing ban period (1,71,033 Nos). In
addition, establishment of Integrated Modern Coastal Fishing Villages (09 Nos), Climate Resilient Coastal
Villages (06 Nos), and extension support services including Matsya Seva Kendras (10 Nos) and Sagar
Mitras (222 Nos) have also been approved to strengthen coastal fisheries and infrastructure in the State.
For enhancing the shelf life of fishes and fetch more value, transport vehicles (468 Nos), fish kiosk (90
Nos), live fish vending centres (77 Nos), Value added enterprise units (10 Nos) has been also approved.
Government of Kerala has informed that through institutions such as Kerala Fishermen Welfare Fund
Board and Matsyafed, several initiatives like provision of interest-free and subsidized loans for fishing
inputs, micro-finance support for fishermen self-help groups, education loans for children of fishermen,
financial assistance to fisherwomen engaged in fish vending, and support for procurement of fishing
crafts, engines and gear are taken up. These interventions aim to strengthen income security, reduce
dependence on informal credit sources, and promote self-employment among fishing communities.
(b) to (e): The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) being the nodal Ministry on the subject
matter has informed that as kerosene is a polluting fuel and adversely impacts public health, PDS
Kerosene allocation to States/UTs including Kerala have been rationalized since 2010-11 and that till date
21 States/UTs have already become PDS kerosene free.
The Government of India has formulated a new “PDS Kerosene Allocation Policy” for the period 2025-26
to 2027-28 after consultations with stakeholders including the Government of Kerala. Under this policy,
allocation is made under a single category of “PDS SKO” on a quarterly basis for cooking and lighting as
well as for special needs. States/UTs have the flexibility to sub-allocate the quantity for cooking and
lighting or for special requirements such as fisheries, melas, exhibitions, pandemics or calamities based on
their specific requirements. Distribution of PDS kerosene within the State under the PDS network and the
scale and criteria of distribution to end beneficiaries are determined by the respective State/UT
Governments.The MoPNG has also informed that under the new policy the State of Kerala has been allocated 22,704
KL of PDS SKO for the year 2025-26 as against the total allocation of PDS SKO 4,368 KL (subsidized
and non-subsidized) for 2024-25, reflecting an increase of 419.78% in allocation. The details of allocation
and upliftment during 2025-26 (up to the third quarter) indicate that against quarterly allocations of 5,676
KL, the State uplifted 924 KL in Q1, 5,580 KL in Q2 and 5,544 KL in Q3, with the remaining quantity
lapsed in the respective quarters. Further, effective from 1st March 2020, NIL under-recovery is
maintained on a pan-India basis for the retail selling price of PDS kerosene.
This information was given by Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan
Singh alias Lalan Singh in the Lok Sabha today in response to a question asked.
***
JP
(Release ID: 2237417) Visitor Counter : 140
Read this release in: Urdu , ही , Malayalam