Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana: Government’s New Scheme to Boost Fisheries

The Union government on 20th May launched the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for the development of fishing through sustainable and responsible development to bring about Blue Revolution in India. 

There are two umbrella schemes in PMMSY namely the Central Sector Scheme(CS) and the Centrally Sponsored Scheme(CSS). The schemes are further divided into non-beneficiary oriented and beneficiary oriented. Under the CS Scheme, 100% of the cost will be borne by the Central Government. whereas any individual/group activities taken under entities of Central Government which also includes the National Fisheries Development Board(NFDB)the central government will give 40% assistance to the general category and 60% assistance to SC/ST category. Under the CSS scheme the cost fo project under the non-beneficiary activities will be shared by the Centre and State/UTs in the following ratios: 

North Eastern and Himalayan states 90% Central share and 10% State share. 

Other States: 60% Central share and 40% state share. 

Union Territories(with the legislature and without legislature) 100% Central share. 

While the beneficiary activities under the CSS scheme the financial assistance given by the government for a project will be 40% for the General category and 60% for SC/ST Women. The financial assistance will be shared by governments as follows: 

The North Eastern and the Himalayan States 90% Central share and 10% state share. 

Other States 50% Central share and 40% State share  

Union Territories(with the legislature and without legislature) 100% Central share (No UT Share) 

The government’s for years has been trying to push the blue revolution to the fore. The fisheries account for 1 % of India’s total GDP and the government has set a growth target of 9% annually to increase the country’s production to 22 million metric tonnes by 2024-25. The fisheries industry in India is one that suffers from a lack of infrastructure and investment. During the COVID-19 lockdown fisheries activities were completely shut which affected about 16 million people dependant on it and even when the government reopened fisheries the lack of labor, transportation and lack of demand left the fishermen with no ways to sell their fish and those who were able to sell did so at a fraction of the original price.

The government hopes that the blue revolution will bring about the changes that will eliminate the aforementioned problems. The government said that the implementation of this scheme will double incomes in the fisheries sector by 2024 and will provide social, physical, and economic security for them.