Latest news with #MatsyakaraBharosa
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Fishermen in Andhra Pradesh resume operations as annual ban comes to an end
Many of the boats anchored along the 24-km-long Visakhapatnam coast during the 61-day annual fishing ban from April 15 to June 14 resumed their deep-sea operations from Sunday (June 15). The ban is imposed to allow marine species to spawn, disrupting the supply chain. The fishing harbour wears a deserted look during the period. With the ban period coming to a close, the fishermen and stakeholders, including the consumers, look forward to a fruitful season. The fishing community in particular expect economic gains and enhanced livelihood opportunities. On the first day, nearly 50% of the fishing boats (675 mechanised and 1,303 motorised) resumed operations at the fishing harbour here and at several other places at dawn. Fishermen performed special prayers to Goddess Gangamma Thalli before resuming the operations. While all the 675 mechanised boats are from the fishing harbour, 695 motor boats are from various coastal areas of the city and 291 from Bhimili beach. The government had provided financial assistance to the fishermen families during the ban period. But several families expressed dissatisfaction as they did not get the aid so far. Speaking to The Hindu, Vijaya Krishna, Assistant Director of Fisheries, Visakhapatnam District, said, 'The ban on deep-sea fishing has been lifted. Now, fishermen are allowed to fish in Indian territorial waters with proper safety precautions as per government guidelines. The government has provided financial assistance of ₹24,27,60,000 to a total of 12,138 beneficiaries under the Matsyakara Bharosa scheme, which is applicable to deep-sea fishing fishermen during the ban period.' On the other hand, Federation of Indian Fishermen Organisations (FIFO) general secretary Arjili Das said, 'The government's financial assistance of ₹20,000, which has been announced in the run-up to the elections the NDA, has not reached 25% of the eligible families. We have brought the issue to the notice of the fisheries officials and the MLAs concerned. The Tamil Nadu government has been very honest in providing assistance to the fishermen during the ban period.' 'Fishermen are expecting a good catch this time due to good rainfall across coastal Andhra Pradesh from the end of May till date,' Mr. Das added. With no alternative livelihood options, many fishermen spent the ban period repairing their boats, or working as daily wage labourers in local bars and restaurants.
The Hindu
26-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Chandrababu Naidu promises steps to improve the lot of fishermen in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has said the coalition government in the State will take steps for early completion of the construction of 11 ongoing fishing harbours in various parts of the State to provide livelihood opportunities for the fishermen community. Mr. Naidu was speaking after launching the Matsyakara Bharosa scheme at Budagatlapalem village of Etcherla mandal in Srikakulam district on Saturday. Under the scheme, a financial assistance of ₹20,000 is provided to each eligible fisherman family during the period of fishing holiday enforced between April and June annually. Interacting with the fishermen community on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the Budagatlapalem harbor and Mulapeta seaport in Palasa Assembly constituency would be completed in one year. Mr. Naidu said ₹258 crore had been deposited in the bank accounts of the eligible families in spite of the financial constraints being faced by the government. 'It is only the TDP government that is taking special care of the fishermen community as it has understood its financial struggle during the fishing holiday period,' he said. Apart from the ₹20,000 financial assistance, the government was planning to support the fishermen by offering them concession on diesel required for boats and purchase of nets and other equipment. he said. Additional income sources 'We will also ensure that fishermen have additional income sources by establishing seaweed cultivation centres near the sea coasts,' Mr. Naidu said. Mr. Naidu observed that optimum utilisation of marine wealth would improve the per capita income of the fishermen families in the State. He said around 555 fishermen villages existed close to the sea coast in Andhra Pradesh and their incomes would rise with the construction of the fishing harbours, including one at Budagatlapalem. Skilling centre The Chief Minister said a skill development centre would be established in Etcherla constituency to impart training to the youngsters from the fishermen and other communities so that they would land jobs in industries such as pharmaceutical companies located in the constituency. He criticised the previous YSRCP government for imposing a debt burden of ₹10 lakh crore on the State without any development agenda. He said social security pensions worth ₹33,000 crore were being extended to various sections in spite of the financial hurdles. Kovvada issue Speaking on the occasion, District Collector Swapnil Dinakar Pundkar explained about the initiatives taken for the benefit of the fishermen community. He referred to the R&R package for the families of Dharmavaram that were displaced due to the land acquisition for the construction of the nuclear power project at Kovvada of Ranasthalam mandal. Responding to the issue, the Chief Minister assured to take up their grievances with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited. Union Minister of Civil Aviation K. Rammohan Naidu, Andhra Pradesh Ministers of MSME and Agriculture K. Srinivas and K. Atchannaidu, Vizianagaram MP K. Appalanaidu, and Etcherla MLA N. Eswara Rao were present.
Hans India
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Naidu to launch Matsyakara Bharosa in SKLM dist today
Vijayawada: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will launch Matsyakara Bharosa scheme at Budagatlapalem village of Etcherla constituency in Srikakulam district on Saturday. He will also interact with fishermen and distribute Rs 20,000 to each of them as part of the scheme that was approved in the recent cabinet meeting. The Chief Minister had promised to pay Rs 20,000 to each fisherman during his election campaign. Meanwhile, the ban on fishing will be in force for two months to boost production of fish and prawns. The State government used to provide financial assistance to fishermen during the fishing ban period. The Chief Minister is in Delhi to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the relaunch of Amaravati development works. On his return, Naidu will be in Srikakulam district to launch the Matsyakara Bharosa scheme. Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries K Atchannaidu is supervising the arrangements for Saturday's event.
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Fishermen families expect more incentives from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister during his tour to Srikakulam district on April 26
Thousands of fishermen families have been eagerly waiting for the Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's scheduled tour to Budagatlapalem of Etcherla mandal of Srikakulam district with a hope that he would announce many other incentives apart from launching Matsyakara Bharosa, a financial assistance scheme on Saturday (April 26, 2025). Hundreds of fishermen have been migrating to Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and other places in search of livelihood due to limited opportunities in Srikakulam which has 180 km long coast line from Pydibhimavaram to Ichchapuram, the border town of Andhra Pradesh. With the skyrocketing cost of boats, nets and diesel rates, many families stopped the fishing activity. With the competition from mechanised boats, changes in the environment, many of them are not able to catch sufficient quantities of fishes even after spending three or four days in the sea. Around 50,000 families which completely depend on fishing activity face difficulties during the fishing holiday period which would be strictly implemented every year for nearly 45 days between April and June months. The previous YSRCP government used to sanction ₹10,000 financial assistance under Matsyakara Bharosa. Now, it was enhanced to ₹20,000. Minister for Agriculture K. Atchannaidu said that around ₹258 crore would be credited to the accounts of eligible families under the scheme during the visit of the Chief Minister. Several fishermen community leaders are expected to meet the Chief Minister and submit a representation on their grievances. A fishermen association leader Suryanarayana hoped that the government would provide alternative livelihood opportunities with the drop in fishing activity with the contamination of water as several pharmaceutical companies were letting polluted water directly into the sea in Pydibhimavaram and other places.
The Hindu
21-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Chief Minister likely to visit Visakhapatnam on April 30 to take part in Chandanotsavam of Simhachalam temple
Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu is likely to visit Visakhapatnam along with his wife Nara Bhuvaneswari and family members to have a special darshan of Lord Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy on the auspicious Chandanotsavam on April 30. He is coming to the city to offer silk robes to the deity on behalf of the State government, according to sources. During the city tour, the Chief Minister is likely to inaugurate some projects like an 11-storey multi-level car parking complex called `Deck' at Siripuram, a UH-3H helicopter museum at RK Beach, and a Ratan Tata Innovation Centre for IT companies on the Deck premises. Before this, the Chief Minister will visit Srikakulam district on April 26, where he will distribute financial assistance to the fishing communities under the Matsyakara Bharosa scheme, at Etcherla Assembly constituency. Speaking to The Hindu, a Cabinet rank (TDP) member said, 'The Chief Minister's visit to Srikakulam is almost confirmed, but we have not received any official communication about the CM's visit to Visakhapatnam as of Monday (April 21). However, we have information that the CM is coming to the city on April 30 for the Chandanotsavam, which is the main purpose of his city visit. On that day, he may formally inaugurate projects like the Deck and the helicopter museum. Otherwise, he may come to the city in the first week of May for the project inaugurations.' On the other hand, Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) Chairman M.V. Pranav Gopal along with his officials on Monday (April 21) inspected the works of the project Deck. On the occasion, he directed his staff to complete any pending work of the Deck by April 26. The VMRDA also developed the UH-3H helicopter museum at a cost of about ₹4 crore including GST. The helicopter was decommissioned from the Indian Navy in 2024 June after 17 years of service. 'We are not clear about the Chief Minister's schedule, but we have told our staff to complete the pending works of our projects by April 26 and get ready for the inauguration whenever that happens,' said Mr. Pranav Gopal. It may be mentioned that the Deck project was finalised in December 2021 and the work began in January 2022. It was planned to be completed in 18 months from the date of signing the agreement with the contractor, but was delayed due to various reasons, including the 2024 elections. The total cost of the project was ₹87.5 crore including 18% GST. VMRDA has invested the lion's share (about ₹60 crore) of the cost of the project. Built on an area of 1.72 acres, the deck will have space commercial establishments like supermarkets and corporate companies. Five floors (1.90 lakh sq ft) will be reserved for parking 430 cars and 400 two-wheelers. Parking will be on three floors from the ground and two floors above. The remaining six floors (1.64 lakh sq ft) will be for commercial establishments. 'If all the parking spaces are occupied, the monthly revenue from vehicle parking will be ₹60 to ₹65 lakh,' a VMRDA official said.
