Visakhapatnam District Collector M. Abhishikth Kishore on Tuesday said the Andhra Pradesh government had credited ₹27.19 crore into the bank accounts of 13,597 beneficiaries in the district under the fishing ban relief scheme.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu participated in the ‘Matsyakarula Sevalo’ programme held at Kavali in Nellore district, while the district-level programme was attended virtually from the Collectorate by Mr. Abhishikth Kishore, Joint Collector G. Vidhyadhari, and legislators Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu and Vamsi Krishna Yadav.

A mega cheque for ₹27.19 crore was presented to beneficiaries under the fishing ban compensation scheme during the programme.

Addressing the gathering, the Collector said the government had released ₹20,000 each to fisher families to help them during the annual fishing ban period.

Mr. Kishore said around 1,500 more beneficiaries had been added to the scheme this year compared to last year. He added that the livelihood assistance scheme, which earlier covered only six crew members on mechanised fishing boats, had now been expanded to cover eight to 10 persons per boat.

He said efforts would be made to identify and include all eligible fisherfolk who had been left out of the scheme.

Joint Director of Fisheries Lakshmana Rao, boat owners and fisherfolk participated in the programme.