5. Activities/Services provided Vision
a) Scholarship Award Ceremony
Every year, the Fund awards Scholarships to fishermen’s children who out perform at examinations in both Rodrigues and Mauritius.
The Scholarship Scheme was first introduced in 1991 by the Government. The aim behind was to provide assistance to children of fishermen with good academic aptitude to emerge and to eradicate poverty in the fisher’s community.
The Scheme was managed by the then Ministry of Fisheries and later passed over to the Fishermen Welfare Fund upon its enactment. Following the introduction of 9 Years Basic Continuous Education, the Scholarship Scheme was revisited.
At present, a total of 168 Scholarships are available. The Scholarship Scheme is devised in such a manner that no children of fishermen are laid off of any Educational Streams.
Details are as follows: -
| | | Categories | Revised Stipends |
Scholarship per category | Details | Duration | MRU | BNK | ROD | Total | Monthly (Rs) | Yearly (Rs) |
Post PSAC – NS | Academic - Normal Stream (Grade 7 to 9) | 3 years | 27 | 4 | 10 | 41 | 500 | 6,000 |
Post PSAC - ES | Extended Stream | 4 years | 9 | 2 | 4 | 15 | 500 | 6,000 |
Post NCE | Grade 10 to 11 | 2 years | 36 | 6 | 14 | 56 | 500 | 6,000 |
Post SC | Grade 12 to 13 | 2 years | 15 | 4 | 6 | 25 | 1,000 | 12,000 |
Post HSC | Diploma, Degree and Professional Qualification | Up to 4 years | 7 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 2,000 | 24,000 |
Vocational | NC 2 - 3 or equivalent | Duration of Course | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 500 | 6,000 |
Vocational or Polytechnic | NC 4 - 5 and/or equivalent | Duration of Course | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1,000 | 12,000 |
Vocational or Polytechnic | NC 6 and/or Onwards or equivalent | Duration of Course | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2,000 | 24,000 |
Post Graduation | Post graduate course | Up to 2 years | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2,500 | 30,000 |
| | | | | Total | 168 | |
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To date, several children of fishermen have benefited from the Scholarship Scheme of the Fund.
b) Financial Assistance for Fishermen Family in Distress
An amount of Rs 15,000/= is granted to the family of fishermen lost at sea in three installments of Rs. 5,000/= to cater for the basic need of the family. If the body is recovered the whole amount is paid once. Besides, their cases are referred to the Social Security, National Solidarity and Reform Institutions for social aid and Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare for counseling purposes and additional assistance.
c) Financial Assistance for Accidentally Damaged Boats
At present an amount of Rs 10,000/= is provided to a fisherman whose fishing boat is accidentally damaged at sea during work.
This assistance is provided so that the fisher can resume work at its earliest.
d) Sick Allowance
A registered fisherman is eligible to a financial assistance of Sickness Allowance whenever he is hospitalized for a minimum of 3 days to a maximum of 14 days. The hospitalisation for chronic disease which requires the fisher for regular hospitalisation is excluded for the consideration of sickness allowance.
Besides, the fisherman’s case is referred to the Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National for consideration for social aid. The present daily rate for Sickness Allowance is Rs. 650/=.
e) Winter Allowance
The Fund also manages a Contributory Scheme for the Bank Fishermen. The mechanism of the scheme is that the Fishermen Welfare Fund, the Fishing Operators and the Bank Fishermen each contribute Rs.2,000/= per fisher yearly to the scheme. Then, the Fishermen Welfare Fund pays the total sum to the Bank Fishermen in three equal installments during the month of July, August and September as Winter Allowance. This Scheme is conditional on contribution made by eligible fishers.
f) Maternity Allowance
The Fund manages a Maternity Allowance Scheme under which it grants a one-off maternity allowance to a registered fisherwoman who has given birth to a child. The allowance meets the basic needs of the family and contributes towards the health of the mother and the child. The quantum is Rs. 30,000/= payable at once.
g) Funeral Grant
This payment aims to assist the family members of the deceased fisher to meet the expenditure for the funeral of the demise fisher and to give the family time to adjust to the new situation.
The quantum is Rs.5,000/= paid one-off.
h) Hardship Scheme
Under this Scheme a registered fisherman is given a one-off financial assistance of Rs. 10,000/- when he has suffered loss following natural calamities, outbreak of fire, when the fisher is seriously injured or has to attend private hospital for urgent surgery.
i) Computer Scheme
The Scheme has been introduced in Financial Year 2023-2024 under which the Fishermen Welfare Fund provides a financial assistance of Rs. 15,000/- to each Post HSC scholars for the purchase of a computer which will help them to follow courses on zoom and preparation of their dissertation.
i) Organisation of Events
The Fund every year organises a minimum of two events.
-World Fisheries Day- A Wreath Laying Ceremony and Inter-Religious prayers on 21st November each year at the public beach of Le Morne village in memory of fishers who have disappeared at sea during their work.
-A Scholarship Award- Ceremony for selected scholars.
Contact:
Secretary:
Phone No:
Fax No:
Website:
Email: | Mr. T. BoodiaFisherment Welfare Fund
Ground Floor,Wing A, LIC Centre,President John Kennedy StreetPort Louis
(230) 214-3294
(230) 214-3319
http://blueconomy.govmu.org
fisherwelfare@govmu.org
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