Govt. of India's Pattern of Assistance under Welfare of Fishermen - I & II

Centrally Sponsored ‘ National Scheme of Welfare of Fishermen’

(1) Development of Model Fishermen Villages:-

Under this component, the eligible fishermen in inland and marine sector would be provided with basic civic amenities like houses, drinking water and commonplace for recreation and work. The respective States/UT’s shall provide land for development of these amenities. The State should keep the following criteria in view while selecting beneficiaries for allotment of houses under the scheme:-

i) Beneficiary should be an active fisher identified by State Government;

ii) Preference should be given to fishers below poverty line and to landless fishers;

iii) Fishers owing land or kutcha structure may also be considered for allotment of houses under the scheme.

Cost of the development would be shared equally by the Central Government and State Governments subject to the conditions indicated below. In case of North–Eastern States, cost of the development would be shared by the Centre and the North–Eastern States on 75:25 basis. In case of Union Territories, the entire expenditure shall be borne by Government of India.

(a) Housing:

A Fishermen Village may consist of not less than 10 houses. There is no upper limit for number of houses to be constructed in a village, which would depend on number of eligible fishermen in that village. However, State should ensure equitable distribution of houses among all villages in proportion to the number of eligible fishers, as far as possible. The plinth area and cost of construction of a house would be limited to 35 Sq.mts. and Rs.50,000/-respectively. The ceiling on land and cost of construction indicate the upper limit. State Government may plan and ensure optimizing the use of available resources so that more number of houses could be built within the available resources.

(b) Drinking Water:-

A fishermen village would be provided with one tubewells for every 20 houses. Where a village consists of only 10 houses or more, but less than 20 houses, one tubewell may be provided for such a village. The cost of installation of a tubewell should not exceed Rs.30,000/-. However, for North-Eastern States, the cost of installation of a tubewell upto Rs.35,000/- would be permissible as a special case for which the State Government should furnish adequate justification. The actual number of tubewells to be installed in a village may be rationalized on the basis of actual water requirement of the inhabitant families and the capacity of the tubewells.

A fishermen village may be provided with alternative source of drinking water supply in case tubewells are not a practical proposition, provided the additional expenditure, (over and above what would otherwise be admissible if tubewells were to be provided on the basis of number of houses for which the facility is intended) is met entirely by the State Government.

(c) Community Halls/Work Sheds:-

As recreation and common working place, a fishermen village with at least 75 houses will be eligible to seek assistance for construction of a community hall if found necessary. The hall will be constructed on an area not exceeding 200 Sq.mts. Two toilets, one for gents and one for ladies and a tubewell will also be provided with a community hall. The total cost of the hall should not exceed Rs.1,75,000/-. The State/UT’s should ensure optimum utilization of the community hall by permitting its utilization as a drying yard and also as mending shed. If required, construction of walls for the community hall may be dispensed with so that it may be a structure with pillars and roofs to permit its optimum utilization as a common working place for fishermen.

2) (i) Group Accident Insurance for Active Fishermen:-

Under this component, fisherfolk/licensed/identified or registered with the State/UT Governments would be insured for Rs.1,00,000/- against death or permanent total disability and Rs.50,000/- for partial permanent disability. The insurance cover will be for a period of 12 months and a policy would be taken out by FISHCOPFED in respect of all the participating States/UT’s. The annual premium payable would be exceed Rs.30/- per head including a service charge @ Re.1.00/- per fisher per annum to be paid to FISHCOPFED for implementing the scheme at the Central level – 50% of which will be subsidized as grants-in-aid by the Centre and the remaining 50% by the State Government. In the case of Union Territories, 100% premium will be brone by the Central Government.

In case of those States/UT’s, which subscribed to this component through FISHCOPFED the Central share of the assistance (100% premium in case of UT’s) would be released directly to FISHCOPFED and will not be routed, through States/UT’s. the State Governments should, however, ensure that their share of premium is sent to FISHCOPFED well before the due date of renewal of the policy. In case of those States/UT’s who do not subscribe to this component through FISHCOPFED, the release of Central share would be restricted on the basis of annual premium that would be payable had the insurance been taken through FISHCOPFED or the actual premium, whichever is less. No contribution will be collected from the fishermen. The scheme would cover fishermen in both marine and inland sectors. FISHCOPFED will be the executing agency and would operate the Scheme through nay Insurance Company/Companies in case of States/UT’s, which opt to subscribe to the Scheme through FISHCOPFED.

ii) Grants-in-aid to FISHCOPFED:-

Consequent upon the allocation of the work of Fisheries Division to the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries from the Ministry of Food Processing, the National Federation of Fishermen’s Cooperatives Ltd. (FISHCOPFED) has come under the jurisdiction of this Department. The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC) has been sanctioning grants in aid to the FISHCOPFED. Since the FISHCOPFED has now under the jurisdiction of this Department, provision for grants in aid has to be made by this Department. Since FISHCOPFED is the only National level Federation which is engaged in welfare activities among fishermen in the country, especially in the field of insurance and training, there is a need to strengthen this organization through support in the form of grants in aid to this Organization. Keeping in view FISHCOPFED’s national and regional presence as well as its contribution in implementing schemes for the welfare of fishermen in the country, a provision for grant-in-aid of Rs.50 lakh per annum to FISHCOPFED has been made under the Scheme.

3) Saving-cum-Relief:-

Mode of implementation:

This component will be implemented uniformly for both marine & inland fishermen. Relief is to be given to fishermen uniformly for 3 months of fishing ban period while seeking savings from them for 9 months. The fishermen contribution will continue to be Rs.600/- as in the case of marine fishermen under the existing scheme which would be collected over a period of 9 months. Contribution of Rs.1200/- will be made by the Centre and the States on 50:50 basis. Thus the total contribution of Rs.1800/- will be distributed to the fishermen in 3 equal monthly installments of Rs.600/- each. Incase of Union Territories, the contribution of Rs.1200/- will be borne by the Centre only. Incase of North-Eastern States, the Government contribution of Rs.1200/- will be shared by the Centre & the States on 75:25 basis i.e. Rs.900/- by the Centre and Rs.300/- by a North-Eastern State. The interest accrued on the savings of the fishermen will also be distributed with the 3^rd installment.

For purpose of this component, an eligible Fisherman means a person who is professionally engaged in full time fishing, is member of Cooperative Society/Federation/Welfare Society, lives below poverty line and is below 60 years of age. If any member of a fishermen family has regular employment or indulges in any other income generating activity, such family will not quality to be beneficiary under this component.

The President/Secretary of the Association shall collect the beneficiary contribution and entrust the same to an official of the State/UT Administration who shall deposit the fund every month in a Nationalised Bank in the name of Director of Fisheries of the respective State/UT’s. The Director of Fisheries will draw the money during the lean season and distribute it to the beneficiaries adding Centre and State contribution in three equal installments. The States/UT’s should ensure that under no circumstances collection of the beneficiary contribution is made in lump sum and also that the money is not distributed to the fishermen in lump sum.

If a Fishermen defaults in paying his contribution during the non-lean months, the Government’s (both State and Centre) matching grant will be limited to the number of months for which he has actually subscribed and will be refunded to the fishermen in equal installments during the lean months. The interest accrued will also be disbursed with the 3^rd installment.

However, a default by any beneficiary in payment of monthly contribution, not exceeding beyond one month and twice during the fishing season, may be waived provided the amount is paid by the beneficiary with a default fee which is equal to the interest that would have otherwise accrued, had the contribution been paid on the due date(s).

Lean months in different States vary according to climatic conditions and monsoon weather. Therefore, Director of Fisheries of the respective States/UT’s will have the discretion, based on the climatic changes and other valid reasons to decide which are the lean months in a year. However, lean months will be limited to only 3 months.

4) Training & Extension:-

The Training & Extension will be implemented as a component of the Centrally Sponsored ‘National Scheme of Welfare of Fishermen’. The expenditure on the items as indicated in the enclosed statement (Annexure-III) will be shared on 80:20 basis between the Government of India and the State Governments. For Union Territories the entire expenditure will be borne by the Centre. FISHCOPFED will be treated at per with Union Territories for all the items of the Training & Extension component.

STATEMENT SHOWING PATTERN OF ASSISTANCE FOR DIFFERENT COMPONENT ITEMS OF THE TRAINING & EXTENSION UNDER "CENTRALLY SPONSORED NATIONAL SCHEME OF WELFARE OF FISHERMEN" DURING THE 11^TH PLAN