National Scheme of Welfare of Fishermen 2023: Eligibility, Benefits & Form

National Scheme of Welfare of Fishermen 2023: Eligibility, Benefits & Form: The National Scheme for Fishermen’s Welfare is a centrally sponsored scheme that provides financial assistance to fishermen. They can use this to build houses and community halls for both recreational and work purposes. Further, through the amount received under this scheme, fishermen can install tube wells.

Objectives-

Table of Contents

Providing basic facilities like accommodation, community hall, tubewell for drinking water to the fishermen.
Ensure financial and social security of fishermen and their families.
Upgrade the standard of living of fishermen.
Educate and train fishermen in advanced technical techniques so that they can learn scientific methods of fishing.

National Scheme of Fishermen’s Welfare Benefits

Here are the facilities and benefits that this government scheme offers to fishermen –

Accommodation facility

The National Scheme for Fishermen’s Welfare provides facilities to fishermen to build houses. There is no upper limit for building houses in a particular village as it depends entirely on the number of fishermen residing there. Through this scheme states ensure equal distribution of houses among all fishermen. Also, this government-backed scheme stipulates the construction of a house with a base area within 35 square meters. Also, the price should not exceed ₹75,000.

Construction of general facility

This government-backed scheme guarantees the construction of a community hall in certain cases if a village has more than 75 houses. The scheme will construct a community hall (with two toilets and a tubewell) with a base area of 200 square meters. and within ₹2 lakh. Fishermen can use this community hall as mending shed and drying yard.

Also Read : Bhojan Bill Sahay Yojana 2023: Registration, Eligibility, Last Date

Ensuring clean drinking water

The scheme offers one tubewell for every 20 households. Also the number of tube wells is increased as per requirement. In addition, this scheme provides an alternative option where installation of tube wells is not possible.

Insurance facility

(For Group Accident Insurance for Active Fishermen)- This scheme pays Rs.50,000 to fishermen or licensed or recognized or registered with States or Union Territories in case of death or permanent total disability. Also, the scheme provides ₹25,000 for partial permanent disability.

Here, the insurance cover will continue for 12 months, and FISHCOPFED will take the policy. Also, under the scheme, the affected fishermen will have to pay an annual premium of ₹15 (per head). Here, the central government will pay 50%, and the state government will pay the remaining 50% as subsidy grant-in-aid. In case of Union Territories, the Central Government will bear 100% of the premium.

On the other hand, States/UTs which have subscribed to this group accident insurance for active fishermen through FISHCOPFED will get the central share of assistance (100% premium for UTs) directly through FISHCOPFED and not through States/UTs.

Savings cum relief

The National Scheme of Fishermen’s Welfare further offers a savings cum relief scheme. The scheme collects ₹75 from the constituent sea fishermen for 8 months in a year. A total of ₹600 needs to be collected to match an equal amount of ₹600 given by the state and central governments to be split on a 50:50 basis. If a fisherman fails to pay, the authorities will refund the amount paid with interest at the end of the fourth month. Also, the provisions for ‘weak months’ vary by coastal area or sea area, which is fully determined by Fischkopfed.

Also Read : Solar Rooftop Yojana Gujarat 2023

National Scheme of Fishermen’s Welfare Eligibility

Eligibility criteria for inland fishermen

Fishermen living in coastal areas and who have been officially licensed by the respective states and Union Territories are eligible for this scheme.
Fishermen should be below 60 years of age.
Applicant fishermen should belong to BPL (Below Poverty Line) category.
They must be engaged in full-time activities within.

Eligibility criteria for sea fishermen

All marine fishermen working under State, Union Territories and Fishkopfed are eligible for this government scheme for fishermen. However, there are other eligibility parameters that sea fishermen must fulfill. This includes –

Marine fishermen must be officially licensed by their respective states and union territories.
They should involve themselves in full-time activities at sea.
They should be members of a welfare society or a federation or a cooperative society.
Please note that fishermen under FishkopFed can avail the funds available under the insurance component only.

Also Read >>> Mukhyamantri Shramik Basera Yojana 2023: Eligibility, Documents & Form

National Scheme of Fishermen Welfare Application Process Offline

The respective States and Union Territories complete the implementation of the National Scheme of Fishermen’s Welfare. The operational and fund allocation procedures are as follows.

Step 1:

Eligible fishermen should visit their nearest Fishkopfed office to apply for this government scheme for fisheries.

Step-2:

Further, the president or secretary of the association will collect the contribution and remit it to the nationalized bank accounts selected by the Director of Fisheries.

Step-3:

Then, the state and central governments match the contribution of the fishermen with the contribution earmarked for them.

Step-4:

Once the scheme reaches maturity, the authorities will return the funds along with the total accrued interest.

Important Links

For More details	Click Here
GkGujarat Homepage	Click Here