Jagan: Each fisherman's family in AP received ₹50,000 in last four years

Vijayawada: Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said on Tuesday that the YSRC government is committed to the welfare of the fishermen community in AP and has helped them a lot.

“We will continue the work for your welfare. The government has released ₹123.52 crore under the YSR Matsyakara Bharosa as assistance for the marine fishing ban period from April 15 to June 14. This has benefitted 1,23,519 fishermen families,” he said at a public meeting here after releasing funds for them by the click of a button.

Jagan Reddy said that, with this, a sum of ₹10,000 each would be credited directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiary families. He also released ₹107.91 crore towards assistance for 23,458 fishermen families that lost their livelihood due to the ONGC pipeline works in Konaseema and Kakinada districts.

The chief minister laid the foundation for the ₹417 crore Nizampatnam fishing harbour.

He said that each fisherman family received ₹50,000 over the last four years under the YSR Matsyakara Bharosa. “I appeal to you to remember that this is your government and that we will continue to work for your welfare,” he said.

The CM told the people to mark the difference between the present and previous governments. He explained that while the Telugu Desam spent hardly ₹104 crore by way of providing benefits to fishermen families in its 5-year rule, the present YSRC government spent more than five times this sum -- ₹538crore -- in the last four years for the fishermen families.

“The TDP government provided only ₹6 as subsidy on diesel purchase by fishermen for running their boats. It did not even spend ₹12crore annually for this purpose, while the present YSRC government is giving ₹9 as subsidy on purchase of diesel by fishermen. For this, the government is spending ₹25 crore annually now,” he said.

The chief minister said the ex-gratia to the kin of the diseased fishermen families has been increased to ₹10 lakh from the ₹5 lakh given during the TD term.

Jagan Reddy said, “The government spent ₹2792 crore for supplying electricity at a subsidised rate of ₹ 1.50 per unit for aqua farmers, also clearing the outstanding arrears of ₹451 crore left behind by the TD government.”

“Unlike the TD, the YSRC government has been implementing various schemes for the welfare of the fishermen. Ten new fishing harbours and six fish landing centers are being built with an expenditure of ₹3,800 crore with a view to stopping migration of fishermen. We have also established a fisheries university in West Godavari district,” he said.

The CM explained, “The fisheries university will produce professional and skilled human personnel, impart knowledge in fishing activities, train fishermen and aqua farmers on advanced technologies, supply quality seed, medicines and feed supplements and help in the recruitment of skilled fisheries assistants at RBKs. The government is also setting up an aqua farm in 280 acres in Dindi. As many as 11385 aqua farmers would be benefitted from this.”

In response to an appeal from party MP M Venkataramana, the chief minister sanctioned ₹ 37.50 crore for various developmental works in Nizampatnam. Fisheries minister Appala Raju participated in the programme along with district collector Renjit Bhasha.