PRADHAN MANTRI MATSYA SAMPADA YOJANA

GS 2: GOVERNANCE

The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is a flagship scheme by the Government of India aimed at enhancing the fisheries sector’s growth and development. A significant focus of PMMSY is the empowerment of marginalized groups, particularly women, within this sector.

Financial Assistance for Women:

• Subsidy Rate: Women beneficiaries receive 60% financial assistance for beneficiary-oriented activities under PMMSY.
• Entrepreneur Model: Under the Entrepreneur Model of PMMSY (Central Sector), women are supported with financial assistance up to 60% of the total project cost, with a subsidy limit of ₹1.50 crore on a ceiling limit of total project cost of ₹5.00 crore.

Beneficiary Statistics (2020-2025):

• Total Projects Sanctioned: Projects worth ₹3,049.91 crore have been sanctioned.
• Women Beneficiaries: 56,850 women beneficiaries have been covered nationwide, including 11,642 from Tamil Nadu.

Promotion of Seaweed Farming in Tamil Nadu:

• Seaweed farming is being promoted in a mission mode in Tamil Nadu under PMMSY, providing financial, marketing, and logistical support to ensure income and welfare gains for small fisher populations, especially women and fisherwomen-headed households.

Activities and Sectors Involved:

Women beneficiaries are engaged across various sectors and activities, including:

• Aquaculture: Fish farming, hatcheries, seaweed farming, bivalve cultivation, ornamental fisheries.
• Post-Harvest: Fish processing and marketing.

Training and Capacity Building:

• Training and capacity-building programs have been imparted to women under PMMSY.
• The National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) has conducted workshops and training programs for women beneficiaries under the Entrepreneurship Model to encourage start-ups and develop entrepreneurial business models in an integrated and innovative approach.
• More than 5,000 women beneficiaries have been trained under various programs organized by the NFDB through various institutes, universities, and colleges across the country.

Monitoring and Implementation:

• Projects under PMMSY are monitored by district-level officials to ensure effective utilization and outcomes.
• Implementation and fund utilization are also monitored through physical and financial progress reports from State Governments.

This comprehensive approach ensures that women from marginalized and rural communities, often engaged in small-scale fisheries and aquaculture, can significantly contribute to production and post-harvest management, thereby improving their livelihoods and socio-economic conditions.