The daily meeting is going on. Responding to a question on the welfare of fishermen in the Rajya Sabha, the Union Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh said that the Central Government has expanded the agricultural credit card facility to meet the working capital needs of fishermen and fish farmers in 2018-19.
As of now, 4,26,666 agricultural credit cards have been sanctioned to fishermen and fish farmers in all states and union territories, he said. Also, Minister Rajeev Ranjan said that the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has been implementing the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund since the financial year 2018-19.
Minister Rajeev Ranjan also said that under this scheme, interest subsidy of up to 3 percent per annum is provided on a concessional basis to improve various fisheries infrastructure facilities. He also said that by providing accident insurance to fishermen and fish farmers, the entire insurance amount is borne by the central and state governments without any contribution from the beneficiary.
The sum insured under the Group Accident Insurance Scheme covers (i) Rs.5,00,000/- against death or permanent total disability, (ii) Rs.2,50,000/- in case of permanent partial disability and (iii) Hospitalization expenses in case of accident Rs. 25,000/- and in the last three financial years (2021-22 to 2023-24) and the current financial year (2024-25), 131.30 lakh fishermen have been covered under this scheme.
Union Minister Rajeev Ranjan has also said that till 28.06.2024 approval has been given to provide agricultural credit cards to 2,43,768 fishermen in Tamil Nadu. Also under the group accident insurance scheme, 21,99,335 fishermen have been included in the insurance scheme in Tamil Nadu in the last four years and a premium amount of Rs.10,23,31,305 crore has been paid, Minister Rajeev Ranjan said.
