Chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will release financial assistance to fishermen under YSR Matsyakara Bharosa scheme at Nizampatnam IN Bapatla district on Tuesday.
He will also address a public meeting after the disbursal of financial assistance. This is the fifth consecutive year for the state government to release financial assistance to fishermen under the scheme.
Fisheries minister Sidiri Appalaraju said the CM will remit 123.52 crore as assistance for the fishing ban period to fishermen families. About 1,23,519 fishermen would receive 10,000 each under the scheme. In addition, Jagan will also deposit 108 crore directly into the bank accounts of 23,458 fishermen families in Konaseema and Kakinada districts who lost their livelihood due to the pipeline works of ONGC.
Rajya Sabha member Mopidevi Venkata Ramana said the government has so far extended financial assistance to the tune of 538 crore to fishermen in the last four years. “Each fisherman family has received 50,000 after the YSRCP government came to power. The government is also setting up 10 fishing harbours, and six fish landing centres at a cost of 3,767.48 crore, which will improve the livelihood opportunities of fishermen and also prevent migrations,” he said.
The state government has also decided to extend 672 crore worth power subsidy to aqua farmers in the state. The decision was taken at a meeting of aqua farmers’ empowerment committee consisting of ministers Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, Botcha Satyanarayana, and Seediri Appala Raju.
The ministers said the government has decided to extend power subsidy to every farmer in the aqua zone. Farmers with less than 10 acres of land for aqua ponds are now getting power subsidy of 1.50 per unit, they said, adding that the government conducted a survey to identify aqua zones in the state. Following the survey, the government identified 46,445 aqua farmers eligible to receive the power subsidy. The farmers were found to be cultivating aqua culture in 3,27,575 acres coming under the aqua zones.