Puducherry Missing Fishermen Relief Scheme 2025: ₹1 Lakh Assistance

This scheme is a sub-component under the “Welfare and Relief for Fishermen During Lean Seasons and Natural Calamities Scheme” in Puducherry. It is designed to provide immediate financial relief to the families (legal heirs) of missing fishermen. The objective is to support the families in coping with the loss of their breadwinner by compensating for the loss of income and helping them manage their day-to-day expenses.

Benefits

• Total Assistance:
  • Up to ₹1,00,000/- per missing fisherman.
• Disbursement:
  • The assistance is provided in two installments of ₹50,000/- each.
  • First Installment: 50% is disbursed within 3 months from the receipt of the application.
  • Second Installment: The balance 50% is released after a prescribed period of 9 months from the first installment or upon further verification by the concerned authority.
• Recovery Clause:
  • In case the missing fisherman returns, the compensation (₹50,000 or ₹1,00,000) will be recovered via an insurance bond.

Eligibility Criteria

• The applicant must be the family (legal heir) of the missing fisherman.
• The missing fisherman must have been a resident of the Union Territory of Puducherry.
• The fisherman must have lost his/her life while fishing.
• The fisherman’s age at the time of disappearance should have been between 18 and 60 years.
• The missing fisherman should not have been a beneficiary of the old age pension scheme.
• The fisherman should have been a member of the Fishermen/Fisherwomen Co-operative Society.

Application Process

Offline Process:

1. Obtain Application Form:
   • Visit the office of the concerned authority (Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare or its sub-offices in all four regions).
   • Request the hard copy of the prescribed application format.
2. Form Completion:
   • Fill in all mandatory fields on the application form.
   • Paste a passport-sized photograph (signed across if required).
   • Attach self-attested copies of all mandatory documents.
3. Submission:
   • Submit the completed and signed application form along with the required documents to the concerned authority.
   • Obtain a receipt or acknowledgment with the date, time, and a unique identification number.
4. Application Deadline:
   • The application should be submitted within 30 days from the date of the event (i.e., the disappearance of the fisherman).

Documents Required

• Photograph: Recent photograph of the family (legal heir) of the missing fisherman.
• Proof of Residence: Residential certificate of the missing fisherman.
• Proof of Age: Document verifying the age of the missing fisherman.
• Declaration: A declaration stating that the missing fisherman was not a beneficiary of the old age pension scheme.
• Membership Certificate: Issued by the President/Administrator of the Fishermen/Fisherwoman Co-operative Society.
• Identity Proof: Attested copies of the Electoral Identity Card.
• Ration Card: Attested copy.
• Local Verification: A Panchayathar’s letter from the concerned village.
• Legal Heir Affidavit: Affidavit on a ₹5 stamp paper with the name, relationship, and address of the legal heir, signed before a notary public.
• No Claim Certificate: Obtained from the Department of Revenue and Disaster Management.
• Police Documents: FIR and a non-traceable certificate from the respective Station House Officer.
• Supporting Statements:
  • Statement of the next kin of the missing person.
  • Statements from Panchayathars and individuals who last saw the missing person.
• Publicity Evidence:
  • An advertisement or newspaper report about the missing person in the Gazette, local newspapers, or announcements from the Municipality/Commune Panchayat Office in the vernacular language.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Recovery Provision:
  • Q: Is there a provision for recovering the compensation amount if the missing fisherman returns?
    A: Yes, the compensation (₹50,000 or ₹1,00,000) will be recovered via an insurance bond if the fisherman returns.
• Standing Committee Role:
  • Q: What is the role of the standing committee in the release of relief assistance?
    A: The standing committee reviews the applications and ensures that all eligibility and documentation requirements are met before recommending the release of funds.
• Delayed Recovery:
  • Q: What happens if the missing person is not found within the prescribed period?
    A: If no further information is received after 9 months from the first installment, the balance amount is released to the next of kin (legal heir).
• Eligibility Determination:
  • Q: How is the eligibility of the missing fisherman determined?
    A: Eligibility is determined based on residency in Puducherry, age (18-60 years), membership in the Fishermen/Fisherwomen Co-operative Society, and whether the fisherman was a beneficiary of any pension scheme.
• Documentation Requirement:
  • Q: Can the application form be submitted without the prescribed documents?
    A: No, all prescribed documents must be attached as specified in the guidelines.
• Release of Balance Amount:
  • Q: Is there a specific procedure for releasing the balance 50% of the relief amount?
    A: Yes, the balance is released upon request by the family (legal heir) after 9 months from the first installment or when additional verification is completed.
• Interpretation of Scheme Details:
  • Q: How are doubts or issues regarding the scheme addressed?
    A: Queries are addressed by the concerned department, and further clarifications can be obtained from the Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare.
• Application Deadline:
  • Q: What is the application deadline for families seeking relief assistance?
    A: Applications must be submitted within 30 days from the date of the event (the fisherman’s disappearance).
• Definition of “Fishermen”:
  • Q: What does the term “fishermen” encompass in the context of this scheme?
    A: It includes all individuals engaged in fishing activities as per the scheme’s guidelines.
• Definition of “Missing Fishermen”:
  • Q: What is the definition of “missing fishermen” under the scheme?
    A: A missing fisherman is one who has lost his/her life while fishing and is presumed missing without any further information.
• Definition of “Family (Legal Heir)”:
  • Q: How is “family (legal heir)” defined in the context of the scheme?
    A: It refers to the next of kin who are legally recognized as the beneficiaries of the deceased fisherman’s compensation.
• Disbursement Details:
  • Q: How is the ₹1,00,000 relief assistance distributed?
    A: It is disbursed in two installments of ₹50,000 each, following the procedures outlined above.

Sources & References

• Guidelines & Application Form
• State Plan Schemes
• List of Sub-Offices
• Contact Us