What happened: GAIS coverage for fishers within PMMSY

The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India implements the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with a stated total investment of Rs. 20,750 crore from 2020-21 “to till date” for development of fisheries in all States and Union Territories. Under PMMSY, the Group Accident Insurance Scheme (GAIS) provides social security for fishers and fish workers (marine and inland) and allied fish workers.

Background: who pays the GAIS premium and what GAIS covers

PIB states that GAIS premium sharing is not uniform across all regions: 60:40 (Centre:State) for most States/Union Territories category as stated under PMMSY—premium is shared between Centre and State. 90:10 (Centre:State) for Himalayan and North Eastern States. 100% of the premium is paid by the Centre for Union Territories. PIB also states the GAIS coverage components linked to accidents: Rs. 5,00,000 for death or permanent total disability. Rs. 2,50,000 for permanent partial disability. Rs. 25,000 towards hospitalization expenses due to an accident.

What changed now: GAIS sums assured enhanced compared with Blue Revolution

PIB states that GAIS coverage under PMMSY has been enhanced in scale and value compared with the erstwhile Blue Revolution scheme. PIB states the sum assured changes as follows: Accidental death/permanent total disability: ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh. Permanent partial disability: ₹1 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh. Hospitalization support: ₹10,000 to ₹25,000. PIB further states that Annexure-I contains year-wise and State/Union Territory-wise GAIS claims details (claims filed, approved, rejected, pending) and the compensation disbursed since 2020-21.

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