West Bengal on Monday, 21 September 2026, formally joined the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), a Union Government scheme aimed at bridging infrastructural gaps and boosting the fisheries sector. The decision was formalised after a one-and-a-half-hour meeting between Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh in Newtown, Kolkata.

What Was Decided

Following the meeting, Chief Minister Adhikari announced that West Bengal had been formally brought under the PMMSY framework. The Union government released ₹9 crore for fisheries development in the state as an immediate first step. Adhikari said fishermen would now be eligible for loans and other scheme benefits with immediate effect.

'There is a lot of potential in the state's fisheries sector. We have discussed it repeatedly. Today I thank Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh in particular. He listened to our concerns and handed over ₹9 crore for fisheries development. From today, fishermen will get loans as needed along with other benefits,' Adhikari said after the meeting.

Political Context

Adhikari squarely blamed the previous government led by Mamata Banerjee of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) for keeping West Bengal out of the scheme, alleging that fishermen were deprived of its benefits due to political non-cooperation. Union Minister Singh echoed the charge, saying the Centre's efforts had been stalled for five years because of the earlier regime's non-participation. 'A lot of work pending for the last five years has been cleared in the last four months,' Singh said.

Focus on Coastal and Inland Areas

Adhikari indicated that development under the scheme would specifically target coastal belts and inland water bodies. The Sundarbans — one of the world's largest mangrove deltas and home to a significant fishing community — was cited as a priority zone. Additionally, the Union Minister approved six Amrit Sarovars in Bankura and Purulia districts following proposals submitted by the state government, extending the scheme's benefits beyond the coast to inland districts.

Why This Matters

West Bengal has one of India's largest fishing communities, with the Bay of Bengal coastline and the river networks of South Bengal supporting livelihoods across thousands of households. The PMMSY, launched by the Union Government, is a flagship scheme designed to modernise fish production, post-harvest infrastructure, and credit access for fishermen. The state's absence from the scheme since its inception had been a point of contention, with critics arguing it left Bengal's fishing communities at a disadvantage compared to other coastal states already drawing PMMSY funds. This is a notable policy shift that aligns the state's administration more closely with centrally-sponsored schemes after years of friction between the Bengal government and the Centre.