Matsyajeebi Bandhu (Death Benefit) Scheme, 2023
A one-time ₹2 lakh payment to the family of a registered fisherman aged 18-60 who dies of any cause, so a household does not lose its earner and its safety net in the same week.
Run by: Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture, Aquatic Resources and Fishing Harbours, Government of West Bengal
- Death benefit
- ₹2,00,000 one-time
- Effective from
- 1 April 2023
- Age of fisherman
- 18 to 60 years
- Cause of death
- Any reason covered
Overview
Fishing work carries a risk that farming on land does not — a boat, deep water, and weather that turns without warning. Announced in the 2023 state budget and effective from 1 April 2023, the Matsyajeebi Bandhu (Death Benefit) Scheme softens that risk with cash, not paperwork: if a registered fisherman between 18 and 60 years dies for any reason whatsoever, the nominee gets ₹2,00,000 in one payment.
The word "fisherman" is read broadly here. It covers fish farmers, boat makers, fish catchers, hatchery owners and workers, crab catchers and fatteners, fish vendors (wholesale or retail) and khuti (fish-landing platform) workers — anyone whose registered livelihood is fishing-related, not only those who go out on the water. The one condition that cannot be relaxed is registration: the deceased must have been enrolled on the Department's Fishermen Registration Portal before the scheme can pay out.
The claim goes to the district Assistant Director of Fisheries within three months of the death; a later claim is not lost but is decided by the Zonal Deputy Director of Fisheries instead. The Fishery Extension Officer runs an on-spot enquiry (meant to finish within seven working days), and the whole sanction is to be completed within thirty working days of a complete application, with the district publishing the sanctioned list on its website. A family may take only one state death-benefit for the same death — this scheme, or the Krishak Bandhu death benefit, or the snakebite / lightning relief — and signs a self-declaration to that effect.
What you get
The benefit as the state notifies it — nothing here is an estimate.
- ₹2,00,000 paid in one instalment directly to the nominee's bank account.
- Covers death from any cause, not only accidents at sea or on the water.
- Broad definition of "fisherman" — fish farmers, boat makers, catchers, hatchery owners, crab catchers, vendors and khuti workers all qualify if registered.
- Both an online application (mjbdb-fisheries.wb.gov.in) and an offline route through the district Assistant Director of Fisheries, so registration status is what matters, not internet access.
Who is eligible
State schemes usually state their criteria as prose rather than a checklist. This is that prose, unpacked — the department’s verification is what decides.
You qualify if
- Deceased was a registered fisherman on the Department's Fishermen Registration Portal
- Deceased was between 18 and 60 years of age at the time of death
- Death occurred on or after 1 April 2023
- Applicant is the registered nominee (or legal heir where no nominee was recorded) of the deceased
Not covered
- Deceased was never registered on the Fishermen Registration Portal
- Deceased was younger than 18 or older than 60 at the time of death
- Death occurred before the scheme's effective date of 1 April 2023
- The claimant is on trial for the homicide of the deceased fisherman
- The same death already compensated under another state death-benefit scheme
Documents you need
Have these ready before you start — most rejections are a missing paper, not a missing right.
- West Bengal domicile proof
- Identity document of the deceased and applicant — Aadhaar, PAN, passport, voter card or driving licence
- Death certificate
- Fishermen registration card of the deceased
- Self-declaration by the applicant, and guardian declaration if the applicant is a minor
- First page of the applicant's bank passbook
How to apply
Fewer steps than a central scheme, and usually one office rather than a portal.
- 1
Confirm registration and gather documents
Check that the deceased was on the Fishermen Registration Portal, then collect the death certificate, registration card, identity and bank documents listed above.
- 2
Apply online or through the district office
Apply on mjbdb-fisheries.wb.gov.in with the fisherman's registration number and a phone number, or submit the form with documents to the Assistant Director of Fisheries of the district.
- 3
Verification and payment
The Fishery Extension Officer runs an on-spot enquiry (target: 7 working days), the Assistant Director of Fisheries sanctions and disburses (whole process target: 30 working days), and ₹2,00,000 is credited to the nominee's bank account by DBT.
If something goes wrong
Missing from the list, or payment stuck — here is the channel the department itself publishes for it.
- If the enquiry drags past the 30-working-day norm, the claim is rejected without a clear ground, or the sanctioned amount is not credited, take it to the district Assistant Director of Fisheries (who both sanctions and disburses) and then the Zonal Deputy Director of Fisheries and the Director of Fisheries. A claim filed beyond three months is decided by the Zonal Deputy Director, not the ADF. The district publishes the sanctioned list on its website — check it. Department helpline: 033-2357 0077.
- Beyond the department, use West Bengal's CMO grievance portal / Public Grievance Monitoring System at cmo.wb.gov.in, which is trackable and escalates to the Head of Department. Keep the fisherman's registration number and the application acknowledgement.
Frequently asked questions
Does the death have to be an accident to qualify?
No. The scheme covers death "for any reason whatsoever" — it is not restricted to accidents at sea or drowning.
The deceased fished for a living but was never registered with the department. Can the family still apply?
No. Registration on the Fishermen Registration Portal before death is a firm condition — this is the one requirement the scheme does not waive.
Is this only for boat-going fishermen?
No. Fish farmers, boat makers, hatchery owners, crab catchers, fish vendors and khuti workers are all covered, as long as they were registered under their fishing-related occupation.
How long do we have to apply?
Within three months of the death, to the district Assistant Director of Fisheries. A claim filed later is not lost, but it is sanctioned by the Zonal Deputy Director of Fisheries instead of the ADF.
Can we take this and the Krishak Bandhu death benefit for the same death?
No. A family may take only one state death-benefit for a death — this scheme, or the Krishak Bandhu death benefit, or the snakebite / lightning relief — and must sign a self-declaration to that effect. A false claim is clawed back with 12% annual interest.
How long until the money comes?
The on-spot enquiry is meant to finish within 7 working days and the whole sanction within 30 working days of a complete application; the ₹2 lakh is then paid to the nominee by DBT.
Facts checked against mjbdb-fisheries.wb.gov.in on 8 September 2026. editorial policy.