Pensions and insurance for over 250,000 fishermen

by P. Krishnaswamy

Over 250,000 fishermen will be brought under the pension and insurance schemes launched by Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr.Rajitha Senaratne told the Sunday Observer.

The insurance scheme introduced in July last year will be made compulsory from April 1 this year. The scheme covers benefits to the family members, including educational assistance to their children up to the age of 18 and payments for hospitalisation for two weeks, the Minister said.

Rs.100,000 of the loans raised by the beneficiary will also be settled under the scheme, he said.Over 220,960 fishermen engaged in marine fishing, including the 40,000 in the Northern and Eastern provinces and the 33,600 engaged in inland fishing will be brought under the two schemes, the Minister said.

Poaching and cross-border problems among other bilateral issues, will be taken up for discussion at the Joint Commission meeting with the Indian delegation on January 13 and 14 to ensure sustainable fisheries development, the Minister said.

Fisheries Department sources said that there are two categories of insurance schemes, one at Rs. 750 per annum premium and the other at Rs.1,500 per annum for insured amounts of Rs.100,000 and Rs.300,000.

In the event of death of a fisherman or if he is found missing at sea, the family will receive Rs.5,000 per month for one year. If the insured fisherman is not found within one year he will be assumed dead and the family will be paid the insured amount. School-going children will get educational assistance until they reach 18 years, the sources said.

The beneficiary will receive a monthly pension of Rs.10,000 per month on reaching 60 and in the event of death the next of kin or children will receive this amount, until they reach 18. This pension scheme is similar in many respects to the Widows’ and Orphans’ Pension Scheme of the state sector employees, the sources said.