A.P. Fishermen Cooperative Societies Federation office-bearers take oath

Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu said that the Andhra Pradesh government reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare and development of fishermen, aiming to empower every fisherman as an industrial entrepreneur and strengthen fishermen’s societies across the State. 

The Andhra Pradesh State Fishermen Cooperative Societies Federation (OFCAF) chairman and office bearers took oath here on Thursday. Atagiri Ramprasad, unanimously elected as the new chairman, with the support of fishermen’s cooperatives from 13 districts, pledged to tour fishing villages, understand their issues firsthand, and bring them to the government’s attention for resolution. 

The federation comprises DFCS presidents from all coastal districts, including Sreekrimalu (Srikakulam), Singidi Paparao (Vizianagaram), Y. Gurunath Rao (Visakhapatnam), Y. Vasanth Rao (West Godavari), Kokkiligadda Nagaramesh (Krishna), Kanna Bhushankar (Guntur), G. Perayya (Prakasam), Konduru Palushetty (Nellore), G.V. Ratnam (Chittoor), B. Shiva Naveen Kumar (Kurnool), and Y. Nagesh (Anantapur).

Mr. Atchannaidu reiterated the coalition government’s commitment to enhancing fishermen’s income and making Andhra Pradesh a leader in aquaculture through modern technology and infrastructure development.

Backward Classes Minister S. Savitha highlighted various welfare measures, including increasing fishermen’s pensions from ₹10,000 to ₹20,000, establishing nine residential schools with 47% reservations for fishermen’s children, and providing subsidies for diesel, nets, boats, iceboxes, and aquaculture initiatives, especially encouraging women with 60% subsidies for fish and shrimp farming.

Excise Minister Kollu Ravindra emphasised the government’s goal of transforming every fisherman into an industrial entrepreneur and highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s vast coastline and abundant water resources. 

State Fisheries Commissioner Ram Shankar Naik, Government Whip Reddypagari Madhavireddy, Agni Kula Kshatriya Corporation Chairman Paparao, Best Corporation Chairman Sridhar, and state presidents of the National Fishermen Association and others were present.