West Bengal Samudra Sathi Scheme

Introduction

• West Bengal State has a 157 Kilometer long coastline which touches the mighty Bay of Bengal.
• 3 District of West Bengal i.e. Purba Medinipur, North 24 Pargana and South 24 Pargana shares the boundary with sea.
• Almost all People living in these 3 districts are actively engaged in fishing or fishing related activity.
• Every day the fishermen of East Medinipur, North and South 24 Pargana Districts go deep down in the sea for fishing to earn livelihood for their family.
• But West Bengal Government imposed the ban on fishing for 2 months every year from these 3 districts coastline to ensure smooth breeding of marine life and to restore fish stock.
• The ban on fishing starts in the mid of April and ends in the mid of June.
• The ban of these 2 months on the fishing activity adversely impact the livelihood of fishermen residing in these 3 districts.
• So to protect the livelihood of fishermen for these 2 months, West Bengal Government decided to start new scheme for fishermen of these 3 districts.
• On 8th of February 2024, Finance Minister of West Bengal Smt. Chandrima Bhattacharya while presenting the budget of the year 2024-2025 announced to start "Samudra Sathi Scheme" for fishermen.
• The main objective of West Bengal Government behind starting Samudra Sathi Scheme is to ensure their livelihood can not be affected due to the 2 month ban on fishing.
• Samudra Sathi Scheme is specifically started for the fishermen of East Medinipur, North 24 Pargana and South 24 Pargana Districts.
• Department of Fisheries of West Bengal Government is the nodal department of this scheme.
• Samudra Sathi Scheme is also known by some other names such as "West Bengal Samudra Sathi Prakalpa" or "West Bengal Samudra Sathi Yojana".
• Fishermen of these district will now get financial assistance of Rs. 5,000/- per month under Samudra Sathi Scheme of Government of West Bengal.
• Financial Assistance under Samudra Sathi Scheme will only provided for those 2 months in which there is a ban on fishing.
• This means that Financial Assistance of Rs. 5,000/- for Mid April to Mid May and Financial Assistance of Rs. 5,000/- for Mid May to Mid June will be provided under Samudra Sathi Scheme.
• Samudra Sathi Scheme benefits will only provided to those fishermen who are properly registered in Department of Fisheries.
• Government of West Bengal allocate Rs. 200/- crore for proper implementation of this scheme.
• It is to be estimated that around 2 lakh fishermen of these 3 district will get the benefit of financial assistance of Rs. 5,000/- per month for 2 months under Samudra Sathi Scheme.
• Eligible and Registered Fishermen can apply for Samundra Sathi Scheme financial assistance through Application Form which is available on district office of Department of Fisheries.
• Fishermen can also Apply Online for Financial Assistance under Samudra Sathi Scheme.

Benefits of Scheme

• Government of West Bengal will provide the following benefits to Fishermen under its newly launched Samudra Sathi Scheme :-
  • Financial Assistance of Rs. 5,000/- per Month will be provided to Fishermen.
  • Samudra Sathi Scheme financial assistance will be provided only for 2 months.
  • Rs. 5,000/- for Mid April to Mid May and Rs. 5,000/- for Mid May to Mid June.

Eligibility Criteria

• Financial Assistance of Rs. 5,000/- per month for 2 months under West Bengal Samudra Sathi Scheme will only provided to those fishermen who fulfil the following eligibility conditions :-

  Fishermen should be a Resident of any of the following 3 districts of West Bengal :- Purba Medinipur. North 24 Pargana. South 24 Pargana. Age of Fishermen should be more than 21 Year. Only 1 Person per Family are eligible to apply. Fishermen should be Registered in Department of Fisheries. Fishermen should have Valid ID Card or Registration Number.

Documents Required

• Fishermen should have the below mentioned documents in his/ her possession at the time of applying for financial assistance under West Bengal Government's Samudra Sathi Scheme :-
  • Residence Proof of West Bengal.
  • Aadhar Card.
  • Passport Size Photo.
  • Mobile Number.
  • Fishermen Card or Fishermen Registration Number.
  • Bank Account Details.

How to Apply

• Eligible Fisherman can apply for financial assistance under Samudra Sathi Scheme of West Bengal Government through 2 modes :-
  • Through West Bengal Samudra Sathi Scheme Online Application Form.
  • Through West Bengal Samudra Sathi Scheme Offline Application Form.

Online Application Process

• Government of West Bengal provides the facility to eligible fisherman to fill Samudra Sathi Scheme Application Form Online.
• Online Application Form of Samudra Sathi Scheme is available on the official website of Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture, Aquatic Resources and Fishing Harbour.
• Select Samudra Sathi Scheme from Programme and Schemes Sections.
  
• It is to be hereby noted that only those fisherman are eligible to apply for Samudra Sathi Scheme Scheme who has Fishermen Registration Card.
• Now enter Fishermen Registration Card Number and Click on Check FRC.
  
• Website will verify the Registration Card of Fishermen.
• After Verification, Samudra Sathi Scheme Online Application Form will appear on the screen.
• Fill the Online Application Form of Samudra Sathi Scheme carefully.
• Uplaod all the required documents.
• Preview the Application Form and Click on Submit Button to Submit it.
• Submitted Application Form will be scrutinised by the Officials of Department of Fisheries.
• Selected Fishermen will the get the financial assistance of Rs. 5,000/- per month for the period of 2 months under Samudra Sathi Scheme of West Bengal Government in their bank account.

Offline Application Process

• Registered Fishermen living in Purba Medinipur, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas District of West Bengal can also apply for financial assistance under Samudra Sathi Scheme by filling Offline Application Form.
• Offline Application Form of West Bengal Samudra Sathi Scheme is available free of cost in the District Office of Department of Fisheries.
• Fishermen has to collect the Samudra Sathi Scheme Offline Application Form and fill it properly.
• Attach all the important documents with the Application Form.
• Carefully check the filled details and attached documents.
• Submit the West Bengal Samudra Sathi Scheme Application Form along with all the documents in the same district office of Fisheries Department of West Bengal Government.
• Concerned Officials of Fisheries Department will verify the received application forms and documents.
• List of Eligible Fishermen will then made in order to provide the financial assistance under Samudra Sathi Scheme.
• Beneficiary List of Samudra Sathi Scheme will also pasted on the notice board of department's office.
• Each Registered Fishermen of Purba Medinipur, North and South 24 Pargana District will received Samudra Sathi Scheme financial assistance of Rs. 5,000/- per month for 2 months in their bank account.

Important Links

• West Bengal Samudra Sathi Scheme Online Application Form.
• West Bengal Samudra Sathi Scheme Registration.
• West Bengal Samudra Sathi Scheme English Guidelines.
• West Bengal Samudra Sathi Scheme Bengali Guidelines.
• West Bengal Fisheries Department Website.

Contact Details

• West Bengal Department of Fisheries Helpline Number :- 033-23570077.
• West Bengal Department of Fisheries Helpdesk Email :- dsfisheries@gmail.com.
• Department of Fisheries, West Bengal,
  Benfish Tower (7th & 8th Floor)
  31-GN Block, Sector-V,
  Salt Lake, Kolkata.
  700091.