Fishermen families expect more incentives from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister during his tour to Srikakulam district on April 26

Collector Swapnil Dinakar Pundkar and other officials reviewing arrangements for Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidus tour at Budgatlapalem of Srikakulam district.
| Photo Credit: ARRANGEMENT

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.