The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries Animal Husbandry and Dairying  has taken up several initiatives for holistic development of fisheries and aquaculture in the country including implementation of various schemes such as (i) Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries implemented for a period of 5 years from FY 2015-16 to FY 2019-20, (ii)  Fisheries & Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) implemented with effect from year 2018-19, (iii) Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and (iv)  Sub-scheme  of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah Yojana (PMMKSSY).  Additionally, the Government of India with effect from the financial year 2018-19 has extended the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility to fishers and fish famers to help them to meet their working capital requirements. The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying during the last 3 years financial years (2022-23 to 2024-25) has accorded approvals to the fisheries and aquaculture development proposals of various State Governments and Union Territories(UTs) at a total cost of Rs.13,924.23 crore with central share of Rs. 6415.84 crore under the Pradhan Mantri,Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).  The central funds of Rs. 3622.54 crore has been released during the last three years (2022-23 to 2024-25) to the State Governments and UTs for implementation of various approved fisheries and aquaculture development projects under PMMSY. State/UT-wise details proposals approved and central funds released during the last three financial years (2022-23 to 2024-25) under PMMSY are furnished at Annexure-I.

(c) and (d) :     The Department of Fisheries, Government of India under the Pradhan Mantri, Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) provides social security to fishers through group accidental insurance coverage to both marine and inland fishers and allied fish workers wherein the entire insurance premium amount is shared between the Centre & State in the ratio of 60:40 basis for General States, 90:10 for the Himalayan & North Eastern States and in the case of the Union Territories, the entire premium amount is paid by the Centre. The insurance coverage provided under the PMMSY 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 accident for a sum of Rs. 25,000/.  During the last three years (2022-23 to 2024-25) of the implementation of the PMMSY, Central Government has released a sum of Rs.54.03 crore for insurance coverage of 103.73 lakh fishers with an average of 34.57 lakh fishers annually.

Further, while no such specific assessment studies to assess the impact of input cost, disease outbreaks etc is carried out,  the Department of Fisheries, Government of India under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) provides for one time incentive for purchase of aquaculture insurance by farmers. The insurance products available under this scheme includes: (i) Basic Insurance which covers yield losses due to non-preventable perils(risks), such as summer kill, pollution, earthquakes, cyclones, floods, other natural calamities, riots, malicious acts of third parties including poisoning, loss of crop due to structural damage of farms and (ii) Comprehensive Insurance which covers perils under Basic Insurance and additional perils due to diseases etc. The one time incentive for aquaculture insurance is provided at the rate of 40% of the premium paid with a ceiling up to ₹25,000 per hectare, or ₹1lakh per farmer for 4 hectares Water Spread Area (WSA). For the aquaculture system including intensive systems like farms, cage culture, RAS, bio-floc, and raceways etc., aquaculture insurance is provided at the rate of 40% of the premium paid with a ceiling up to ₹1 lakh per farmer for 1800 m3 for intensive aquaculture systems. Further, the SC/ST and women beneficiaries get an additional 10% of incentive.

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Annexure-I

 State/UT-wise details proposals approved and central funds released during the last three financial years (2022-23 to 2024-25) under PMMSY

(Rs. in lakhs)

This information was given by Shri Rajeev Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, in reply to a question asked in the Rajya-Sabha today.

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JP