The Department of Fisheries, Government of India, along with Government of Tamil Nadu is implementing various schemes to increase overall fish production in the State of Tamil Nadu and thereby increasing the income of fishers and fish farmers. Financial assistance is being provided for the inland fish farmers for construction of new freshwater finfish hatcheries, fish rearing ponds, grow out ponds including inputs, freshwater bio-floc ponds, Re-Circulatory Aquaculture System (RAS) and fish feed mills. Hatcheries have also been established for fast growing genetically improved GIF Tilapia. To promote cage culture and alternate livelihood, the Government has allocated Rs. 11.08 Cr for the Integrated Development of Reservoir Project. In marine sector, around, 2,000 fisher families are engaged in 07 districts of Tamil Nadu for Seaweed farming which proved to be an alternate source of income, particularly for fisherwomen. In cold chain facilities, assistance has been provided for insulated vehicles, refrigerated vehicles, two-wheeler and three wheelers with ice boxes, modern fish retail markets, kiosks and live fish vending centres to reduce post-harvest loss and enhancing the income of fishermen.  

 In order to address the infrastructure requirement for fisheries sector, the Department of Fisheries, Government of India has created a dedicated fund namely ‘Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund’(FIDF) with a total funds size of Rs 7,522.48 crore where interest subvention up to 3% per annum is provided for fisheries infrastructure projects. Under FIDF, 64 projects have been sanctioned with project cost of Rs. 1573.73 Crores to the State Government of Tamil Nadu. Besides, as informed by Government of Tamil Nadu, under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), 96 projects have been sanctioned to Tamil Nadu with project cost of Rs. 1664.39 Crores.

The Department of Fisheries, Government of India through National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) under the ongoing Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is implementing the Group Accident Insurance Scheme (GAIS) in all States/UTs including Tamil Nadu wherein the entire insurance premium amount is borne by the Central and State Government, with no contribution from the beneficiary. The insurance coverage provided under the said scheme includes (i) Rs.5,00,000/- against death or permanent total disability, (ii) Rs.2,50,000/- for permanent partial disability and (iii) hospitalization expenses in the event of an accident for a sum of Rs. 25,000/. During the last three (from 2021-22 to 2023-24) and current financial year (2024-25), 131.30 lakh of fishers, have been provided the insurance coverage under the scheme with an average of 32.82 lakh fishers annually. As a result, as on date 1047 claims have so far been settled against the 1710 claim proposal received with the claim settled amount of Rs 52.13 crores. Further, as reported by Government of Tamil Nadu, the details of fishers enrolled, claim proposals received and setteles in Tamil Nadu is provided at Annexure.

Department of Fisheries, Government of India accorded approval to the projects at a total cost of Rs. 20990.79 crore with the central share of Rs. 8926.33 crore during last 4 years (2020-21 to 2023-24) and current financial year (2024-25). Out of the central funds approved, an amount of Rs. 4670.79 has been released to all the States/UTs and implementing agencies under PMMSY for holistic development of fisheries and fishermen in the country. As reported by various States/UTs and other implementing agencies, so far, a sum of Rs. 3160.86 crore has been utilized under PMMSY. Further, under FIDF, 136 projects with an outlay of Rs. 5801.06 crore with project cost restricted for interest subvention at Rs. 3858.19 crore have been approved for various States/UTs.

Annexure

Details of members enrolled, State Share and Central share under the Group Accident Insurance Scheme (GAIS) under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) implemented in Tamil Nadu:

Year	Members enrolled	State Share (40%) per fisher (in Rs.)	Central Share (60%) per fisher (in Rs.)	Claimants benefitted	Relief amount paid to beneficiaries (in Rs.)
2021-22	5,23,237	22.87	57.16	124	5,81,00,000
2022-23	5,43,949	28.98	43.46	128	6,16,25,000
2023-24	5,58,966	38.00	57.00	84	3,91,50,000
2024-25	5,73,183	33.60	50.40	02	10,00,000

 

This information was given by Union Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri George Kurian, in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 11th March, 2025.

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