Out of the 12 lakh fishermen in Odisha, 11 lakh have been insured under the Group Accident Insurance Scheme (GAIS), which is highest for any State.
Odisha is being awarded as the leading State in respect of fishermen insurance in the entire country in last five years, informed National Federation of Fishermen’s Cooperatives ltd, (Fishcopfed) Managing Director Bimal Kumar Mishra.Mishra while speaking at a workshop on social security for fishers here said, “Though the actual numbers of fishermen in the country and in Odisha are yet to be ascertained, our report states that it is 12 lakh in Odisha. Out of them, we have provided insurance cover to 11 lakh fishermen. But we urge the State Government to make a survey to ascertain the actual number of fishermen in order to strengthen the social security and socioeconomic conditions of the poor fishers.”
Sources said the Fishcopfed, apex body of fisheries cooperatives movement in India, has already disbursed Rs2.8 crore in last five years towards insurance claim.Now, the Fishcopfed is providing Rs1-lakh insurance coverage against death and permanent (total) disability and Rs50,000 against permanent partial disability.Among others, New India Assurance Company ltd Senior Divisional Manager Sarbeswar Sahoo, State Cooperative Societies Deputy Director Bijay Kumar Mishra and Fisheries Cooperative Inspectors of 30 districts attended the workshop.
