Grant of 50% Subsidy for the Purchase of Aquarium and Its Accessories under "Development of Freshwater Aquaculture and Setting up of Aquarium, Ornamental Fish Breeding Centre"
Puducherry state government scheme
Grant of 50% Subsidy for the Purchase of Aquarium and Its Accessories gives any Puducherry resident aged 18 or above a complete aquarium unit assessed at Rs 7,000 for half price, with the government paying up to Rs 3,500. Applicants who own a pucca house or commercial place apply offline through the fishermen co-operative federation in their region.
What is the aquarium subsidy scheme in Puducherry?
Grant of 50% Subsidy for the Purchase of Aquarium and Its Accessories is a small public-outreach scheme of the Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare, Government of Puducherry. The subsidy is a sub-component of the wider scheme "Development of Freshwater Aquaculture and Setting up of Aquarium, Ornamental Fish Breeding Centre", and it is extended to all four regions of the Union Territory: Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam.
The purpose is unusual for a fisheries department. Rather than raising production, this component exists to propagate the importance of aquarium keeping and to inculcate the art of aquarium keeping among the general public. The Department's own notification describes an aquarium as an artifact that adds beauty to its surroundings, brings solace to the aged, soothes children and helps reduce stress. Underneath that framing sits a practical aim: a wider hobbyist base supports the ornamental fish breeding centres the Department is trying to develop.
This is one of the few Puducherry fisheries schemes with no fishermen-community requirement. Any resident of the Union Territory can apply.
How much does the aquarium subsidy pay?
The Department has assessed the unit cost of the aquarium and its accessories at Rs 7,000 per unit. The pattern of assistance is:
| Element | Amount |
|---|---|
| Assessed unit cost | Rs 7,000 (maximum) |
| 50% subsidy by Government | Rs 3,500 (maximum) |
| Beneficiary contribution — 50% and anything above the assessed cost | Rs 3,500 (maximum) |
The beneficiary's share is paid to the Secretary or Administrator of the Pondicherry State Fishermen Co-operative Federation Limited, the Karaikal Fishermen Co-operative Marketing Union, or the Fishermen Co-operative Societies in Mahe and Yanam, depending on the region. The Department notes that all these figures may vary from time to time.
The unit supplied to the beneficiary is a complete, working set:
- One aquarium or moulded aquarium
- One stand
- One power filter
- One air pump
- Two 1-foot tube lights
- 10 kg of gravel
- Nine goldfish
- One 100-gram packet of fish food
- One scoop net
Applicants specify the size of aquarium they want in the application form, and the size chosen is considered when the subsidised rate is worked out.
Who is eligible for the aquarium subsidy?
You can apply if:
- You are a resident of the Union Territory of Puducherry by domicile or by birth.
- You have attained 18 years of age.
- Neither you nor any member of your family has benefited under this scheme previously.
- You possess a pucca house or a commercial place in which to keep the aquarium.
You cannot apply if:
- You are under 18 years of age.
- You or a family member has already received an aquarium under this scheme.
- You do not have a pucca house or commercial premises. A person without a permanent place to site the tank is not eligible, because the Field Officer's recommendation is based partly on the location of the applicant's house or residential place.
- You are not a resident of Puducherry by domicile or birth.
There is no income ceiling, no caste restriction and no requirement to belong to the fishermen's community. There is also no requirement to be a member of a co-operative society, although the societies are the delivery channel.
What documents are required?
| Document | Mandatory | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aadhaar identity card and smart card | Yes | Primary identification |
| Residence certificate of Puducherry | Yes | From the Deputy Tahsildar of the area |
| Proof of age | Yes | Applicant must have attained 18 |
| Ration card | Yes | Proof of residential address |
| Photo identity proof | Yes | Electoral Identity Card, PAN card or driving licence |
| Proof of possession of a pucca house or commercial place | Yes | Verified before selection |
| Declaration | Yes | That no family member has benefited before |
How to apply for the aquarium subsidy
- Identify the right office for your region. Puducherry region applicants go to the Pondicherry State Fishermen Co-operative Federation Limited (PSFCF). Karaikal applicants go to The Karaikal Fishermen Co-operative Marketing Union (KFCMU). Mahe and Yanam applicants go to the office of the Assistant Director of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare for that region.
- Request the prescribed application form, called Form-I, in hard copy from that office. The form is also carried in the Department's aquarium subsidy notification published on fisheries.py.gov.in.
- Fill in all the mandatory fields, including the size of aquarium you want, paste the passport-sized photograph and sign across it where required, and attach self-attested copies of the Aadhaar card, residence certificate, age proof, ration card, photo identity proof, proof of a pucca house or commercial place, and the declaration.
- Submit the completed form with the enclosures to the concerned authority at the same office.
- Ask for a receipt or acknowledgement carrying the date and time of submission and a unique identification number.
- Pay your 50% share to the Secretary or Administrator of the co-operative body once you are selected, and collect the aquarium unit.
How are beneficiaries selected?
Field Officers of the Department recommend applications to the Selection Committee based on the location of the applicant's house or residential place, which spreads the units across localities rather than concentrating them.
The Selection Committee is chaired by the Director of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare. It reviews the recommended applications, verifies that the necessary documents are enclosed and selects the beneficiaries. In the Puducherry region the Deputy Director of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare (Inland) serves as a member and convener of the committee.
The rules governing the subsidy come into force on the date of their publication in the official gazette, and the Department reserves the right to revise the unit cost and the subsidy from time to time.
How do I check the status of my application?
Quote the unique identification number from your acknowledgement and follow up at the co-operative federation, marketing union or Assistant Director's office where you filed. This component has no separate online tracker; the file moves through the Field Officer's recommendation to the Selection Committee, and the office where you applied can tell you which stage it has reached.
Why applications get rejected, and how to fix them
- A family member has already received an aquarium. The declaration is checked, and one unit per family is the rule.
- No pucca house or commercial place. The Department wants the aquarium sited permanently, and proof of premises is mandatory.
- Applicant under 18. The age proof is checked against the 18-year threshold.
- Residence certificate missing. A ration card alone establishes address but not domicile; the Deputy Tahsildar's residence certificate is the document the Department asks for.
- Size of aquarium left blank. The form asks for it, and it determines the rate applied.
- Beneficiary share not paid. The unit is issued only after the applicant's 50% contribution reaches the Secretary or Administrator of the co-operative body.
Where to raise a grievance
Contact the Directorate of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare, Fishing Harbour Complex, Thengaithittu, Mudaliarpet Post, Puducherry 605 004, telephone 0413-2357761, email fish[dot]pon[at]nic[dot]in. Regional applicants should first approach the office where the application was submitted, and the Sub-Offices page on fisheries.py.gov.in lists the addresses for Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam.
No fee is charged for the application form. The only money a beneficiary pays is the 50% share, and that goes to the Secretary or Administrator of the co-operative body against a receipt, never to an individual.
Documents required
Frequently asked questions
How much does the aquarium cost the beneficiary?
The Department has assessed the unit cost at Rs 7,000, of which the government pays a 50% subsidy of up to Rs 3,500. The beneficiary pays the remaining Rs 3,500, and anything above the assessed cost, to the Secretary or Administrator of the co-operative body in their region.
What exactly comes in the aquarium unit?
The unit issued to beneficiaries consists of one aquarium or moulded aquarium, one stand, one power filter, one air pump, two one-foot tube lights, 10 kg of gravel, nine goldfish, one 100-gram packet of fish food and one scoop net.
Do I have to be a fisherman to apply?
No. This is one of the few Puducherry fisheries schemes open to the general public. Any resident of the Union Territory by domicile or birth who has attained 18 years and owns a pucca house or commercial place can apply.
Where do I submit the application?
In the Puducherry region, at the Pondicherry State Fishermen Co-operative Federation Limited. In Karaikal, at the Karaikal Fishermen Co-operative Marketing Union. In Mahe and Yanam, at the office of the Assistant Director of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare for that region.
Can two people from the same family apply?
No. Neither the applicant nor any member of the applicant's family may have benefited under the scheme previously, and a declaration to that effect is a mandatory enclosure.
Can I choose the size of the aquarium?
Yes. Applicants specify the size of the aquarium they want in the application form, and that choice is considered for the subsidised rate.
Who decides who gets the aquarium?
A Selection Committee chaired by the Director of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare reviews the applications recommended by Field Officers, checks the enclosures and selects beneficiaries. In the Puducherry region the Deputy Director of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare (Inland) is a member and the convener.
Is the Rs 7,000 unit cost fixed?
No. The Department's notification states that the unit cost and the subsidy may vary from time to time, so confirm the current figure at the office where you apply.
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