The National Scheme of Welfare of Fishermen is a centrally sponsored scheme designed to provide financial assistance to fishermen. The scheme enables fishermen to construct houses, build community halls for recreation and work, and install tube wells for clean drinking water. In addition, the scheme offers group accident insurance and a savings cum relief component to enhance the social and financial security of fisherfolk.
Objectives:
• Provide fishermen with basic amenities such as housing, community halls, and tube wells
• Ensure the financial and social securities of fishermen and their families
• Upgrade the standard of living of fishermen
• Educate and train fishermen in advanced technical technologies for scientific fishing
Benefits
• Housing Facility:
– Enables construction of houses with a base area of up to 35 sq. mt. at a cost not exceeding ₹75,000
– No upper limit on the number of houses per village, ensuring equal distribution among fishermen
• Construction of Common Facility:
– Community halls (with two toilets and a tube well) of 200 sq. mt. at a cost within ₹2 lakh
– Serves as a mending shed and drying yard
• Clean Drinking Water:
– Provides a tube well for every 20 houses, with additional installations based on demand
• Insurance Facility (Group Accident Insurance for Active Fishermen):
– ₹50,000 in case of death or permanent total disability
– ₹25,000 for partial permanent disability
– Annual premium of ₹15 per head, with the Central and State Governments sharing the premium equally (or Central Government bearing 100% in Union Territories)
• Saving cum Relief:
– Collects ₹75 per month from marine fishermen for 8 months (totaling ₹600)
– Matched by an equal amount from the State and Central Governments on a 50:50 basis
– Provisions for refund with interest if any payment is missed during lean months
Eligibility
For Inland Fishermen:
• Fishermen living in coastal areas licensed by the respective States/UTs
• Age below 60 years
• Must belong to the BPL (Below Poverty Line) category
• Engaged in full-time inland fishing activities
For Marine Fishermen:
• Must be officially licensed by the respective States/UTs
• Engaged in full-time fishing at sea
• Must be a member of a Welfare Society, Federation, or Cooperative Society
• Eligible for funds under the insurance component via FISHCOPFED
Application Process
Offline
• Step 1: Eligible fishermen visit the nearest FISHCOPFED office to apply
• Step 2: The President or Secretary of the Association collects the contribution and forwards it to the designated nationalised bank account selected by the Director of Fisheries
• Step 3: The State and Central Governments match the fishermen’s contributions as per the scheme
• Step 4: Once the scheme matures, the authorities return the funds along with the total accrued interest
Documents Required
• Application in the specific format
• Photograph of the applicant with spouse (if married)
• Vessel registration certificate issued by the Directorate of Fisheries
• Current net license payment receipt
• Professional cum residential certificate
• Ration card copy
• Income certificate
• Recent photograph
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can fishermen or members of fishermen families engaged in other income activities avail funds under the scheme?
A: The scheme primarily targets fishermen; eligibility for additional income activities is subject to specific state guidelines.
Q: How many tube wells does this scheme provide for a fishermen village with more than 10 houses but less than 20 houses?
A: The scheme provides one tube well per 20 houses; additional installations depend on local requirements.