Schemes for Welfare of Fishermen The Government has approved a restructured Central Sector Scheme (CSS) namely Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries with National Scheme of Welfare of Fishermen as one of the components. The National Scheme of Welfare of Fishermen provides financial assistance to fishers during the lean fishing season/fishing ban period. In addition, financial assistance is also provided for construction of houses for fishers and creation of other basic amenities such as drinking water facility & community halls. Besides this, insurance coverage for fishers is also provided under the scheme. The Blue Revolution Scheme also aims for integrated development and management of the fisheries sector covering inland fisheries, aquaculture, marine fisheries, mariculture, cage/pen culture and creation of fisheries infrastructure through central financial assistance towards sustainable livelihood to fishermen. It has the following components namely, (i) National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) and its activities, (ii) Development of Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture, (iii) Development of Marine Fisheries, Infrastructure and Post Harvest Operations, (iv) National Scheme of Welfare of Fishermen, (v) Strengthening of Database and Geographical Information System of the Fisheries Sector and (vi) Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) and other need based interventions. This information was given by the Minister of State for Agriculture Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan in Rajya Sabha today.
