Prime Minister of India - Dr. Manmohan Singh

PM Sanctions Grant to next of kin of Fishermen held captive in Pakistan

The Prime Minister has granted a one-time ex-gratia payment of Rs. 3 lakh to the next of kin of each fisherman being held captive in Pakistan. He has also sanctioned an out-right grant of a of Rs 30000/- for smaller fishing boats and a grant of Rs. 5 lakh for trawlers to the owners of each boat or trawler seized.

The grant is being made to ameliorate the hardships caused due to the continued retention of bread winners in captivity and to address the livelihood problems due to seizure of boats. The assistance is to be provided from Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) will be the designated the implementation agency. The Finance Ministry shall also liaise with the implementation agency and the Deptt. of Animal Husbandry to develop a suitable soft loan package for the replacement of fishing craft. The Prime Minster's relief package will be in addition to all existing benefits, including those made by the Gujarat Government.

The Prime Minister had received several representations from Gujarat regarding the problems being faced by the families of fishermen held in captivity in Pakistan, along with a number of memoranda regarding the problems faced by the fishermen community due to the seizure of fishing craft.