The Andhra Pradesh State Government on Wednesday announced an ex-gratia of Rs.4 lakh each to the family members of nine fishermen who are feared dead in the Bay of Bengal.
The amount would be paid to the family members of the nine fishermen from East Godavari District including seven members from Pagadalapeta fishermen hamlet in Kakinada Rural mandal.
The Government also announced free medical aid to those who sustained injuries in the course of reaching their destinations from the sea, 75 per cent subsidy on purchase of new boats and fishing nets for those who lost their boats and nets to the cyclone and a 90 per cent subsidy on the Distress Alert Transmitter (DAT) device that connects boats in the sea to the Indian Coastguard’s control room at Chennai.
It also doubled the ex-gratia for fishermen on account of two-month fishing ban period from Rs.2,000, which would be disbursed to the beneficiaries very soon.
A group of four Ministers headed by Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu visited Pagadalapeta hamlet and interacted with the family members of the missing fishermen at the community hall.
Home Minister N. Chinna Rajappa, Agriculture Minister P. Pulla Rao and Excise Minister K. Ravindra interacted with the family members of the fishermen and assured them of the government support to the families including free education to the children and medical aid to the aged.
“Absence of distress alert system has caused this loss. Henceforth, we are going to make the installation of DAT to all the boats mandatory. Each device costs Rs. 10,700 and the Government gives you a subsidy of 90 per cent,” Mr. Ramakrishnudu said. He said that a decision was taken instantly to increase the ex-gratia from Rs. 2,000 to Rs.4,000 per head for the fishermen on account of the 60-day ban on fishing imposed by the Government.
Observing that the incident of missing of fishermen took place only due to the absence of precautions and non-availability of technological advancement, Mr. Pulla Rao underscored the need for making use of the updated technology by the fishermen. District Collector H. Arun Kumar, MLAs and officials were present.
