Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu assured that he will work with sincerity and dedication for the construction of Bhavanapadu Fishing Harbor.
As part of the service to the poor, fishermen, disabled, social pensions and new QR code-based smart ration cards were distributed by the minister along with District Collector Swapnil Dinakar Pundkar on Monday in Bhavanapadu, a fishing village in Santhabommali mandal.
Speaking at a public meeting organized on the occasion, Minister Atchannaidu said the Shipping Harbor is a long-standing dream, to increase the employment and livelihood of fishermen. He recalled that the government had provided the increased pension to the poor two months ago as soon as it came to power.
He stated that Rs 20,000 was provided to fishermen for living allowance during the hunting ban. He clarified that the pension of any eligible disabled person has not been canceled.
The Minister revealed that notices have been issued to up to 90 people in the district who were receiving pensions with fake disability certificates. He said that if they appeal and prove their eligibility, they will immediately grant pensions to the disabled. He flagged that the previous government had granted pensions to the ineligible and disrupted the pension system.
He alleged that after 2019, many eligible pensions were removed and pensions would be granted again depending on the financial situation. He said that after the government came to power, three lakh new pensions were granted. He said that despite financial difficulties, they fulfilled the promises made to the people.
The Minister said that the government is committed to working for the welfare of fishermen, and as part of that, they have distributed engines worth Rs. 35 lakh to fishermen and provided them with support. They also said that boats and nets will be granted.
He explained that the previous government had stopped the oil subsidy for fishermen, and the oil subsidy bills for fishermen were paid as soon as the coalition government came to power. He promised to look into the possibility of setting up a substation to solve the electricity problems in Bhavanapadu.
