The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the central sector scheme "National Scheme of Welfare of Fishermen" during the 12th Plan. The scheme has been formulated by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and is an ongoing scheme.

The objectives of the scheme are:

(a)       Provision of basic amenities like drinking water and sanitation in fishers` villages

(b)       Better living standards for fishers and their families,

(c)       Social security for active fishers and their dependants, and

(d)       Economic Security.

During the Twelfth Plan period, the following benefits have been targeted for the fisherman across the country: (i) additional 4600 houses per year, (ii) coverage of 3.5 lakh fishers under Saving-cum-Relief every year; (iii) an additional coverage of 3 lakh fishermen under Group Accident Insurance has been set; (iv) covering 6400 fishermen per year under Training and Extension.

The scheme will be implemented within an outlay of Rs 640 crore including a Central outlay of Rs. 320 crore for the remaining part of the 12th Plan. The scheme has following components:

I)        Group Accident Insurance for active fishermen

II)       Development of model fishermen village

III)      Saving-cum-Relief, and

IV)     Training and Extension.

The Cabinet also approved enhancement in the amount of assistance and compensation to fishermen as per following:

Items	11th Plan	12th Plan
Cost of construction of house	Rs.50,000 per house	Rs.75,000 per house
Cost of construction of Tube well	Rs.30,000 for all States and Union Territories Rs.35,000 for North Eastern States	Rs.40,000 for all States and Union Territories Rs.45,000 for North Eastern States
Cost of construction of Community Hall	Rs.1,75,000 per hall	Rs. 2,00,000 per hall
Relief under Saving cum Relief component	Rs.1800/- (Rs. 600/- per month for three months ban period)	Rs.2700/- (Rs. 900/- per month for three months ban period)
Compensation under Group Accident Personal Insurance	Rs.50,000 in case of partial permanent disability and Rs.1,00,000 in case of death/total disability	Rs.1,00,000 in case of partial permanent disability and Rs.2,00,000 in case of death / total disability
Training and Extension	Stipend @ Rs.125 per day subject to maximum of Rs.1875/- per participants for maximum of 15 days of honorarium to authors of handbook Rs.15,000/- Honorarium for experts for preparation of manual : Rs.5,000/- Workshops/seminars: Rs.50,000/- Construction of training centre Rs.30 lakh	No change
Grant in Aid to FISHCOPFED	Rs.50 lakh	No change

Welfare scheme for fishermen expanded: enhanced benefits, insurance coverage, housing, training and strengthened savings measures. The National Scheme of Welfare of Fishermen during the Twelfth Plan is an ongoing central programme with objectives of basic amenities, better living standards, social and economic security. It comprises four components: Group Accident Insurance, development of model fishermen villages, Saving-cum-Relief, and Training and Extension, with targeted annual outputs for housing, savings coverage, insurance enrolment, and training. The scheme specifies a central outlay for the remaining Plan period and enhances assistance rates and compensation for housing, tube wells, community halls, relief payments, and accident insurance, while retaining training stipends and grant support to FISHCOPFED.