Centre Receives Proposal to Cover 2.85 Lakh Andhra Fishers Under Insurance Scheme
New Delhi, July 29 (TNT): The Centre has received a proposal from the Andhra Pradesh Government to provide accidental insurance coverage to 2,84,888 fishers under the Group Accident Insurance Scheme (GAIS) during the current financial year 2026-27, Union Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
The Union Minister said the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), launched with an outlay of ₹20,750 crore from 2020-21, is being implemented across all States and Union Territories, including Andhra Pradesh, for the overall development of the fisheries sector.
Under PMMSY, the Centre provides social security to marine and inland fishers and allied fish workers through the Group Accident Insurance Scheme.
The insurance premium is shared between the Centre and States in a 60:40 ratio, while the ratio is 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States. In the case of Union Territories, the Centre bears the entire premium.
The insurance scheme provides ₹5 lakh in the event of death or permanent total disability, ₹2.5 lakh for permanent partial disability and hospitalisation assistance of up to ₹25,000 following an accident.
The Union Minister informed the House that Andhra Pradesh had not participated in the Group Accident Insurance Scheme during the previous five years. However, the State has joined the scheme for the first time in 2026-27, covering the period from June 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027, to extend insurance coverage to 2,84,888 fishers.
He said no insurance claims have been submitted for settlement so far under the current coverage period.
He further said claim intimation under the scheme must be submitted within 120 days of an accident, while complete claim documents are required to be filed within 180 days. The Centre has simplified the claim process by introducing standardised claim formats and checklists, issuing timelines to States and Union Territories, and holding regular review meetings with State Fisheries Departments, insurance intermediaries and insurance companies to expedite settlement of eligible claims.
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