Nellore, May 19: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday announced a series of welfare and infrastructure measures for fishermen communities, including financial assistance during the annual fishing ban period, subsidised mechanised boats and promotion of seaweed cultivation for coastal women.

Participating in the “Matsyakarula Sevalo” programme at Tummalapenta village in Kavali constituency of Nellore district, the Chief Minister released ₹261.50 crore as financial assistance to 1,30,796 fishermen families. Under the scheme, each eligible family received ₹20,000 directly into their bank accounts.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Naidu said the government was committed to safeguarding the livelihood interests of fishermen and ensuring their participation in coastal development. He asserted that the State would strengthen coastal surveillance and prevent intrusion by fishing boats from neighbouring States into Andhra Pradesh waters.

The Chief Minister announced that 200 mechanised fishing boats would be sanctioned with 60% subsidy support, while the remaining cost would be covered through bank loans. He said the government was already extending diesel subsidy assistance to mechanised and motorised fishing boats.

Highlighting infrastructure development in the fisheries sector, Mr. Naidu said the State was constructing nine fishing harbours and eight fish landing centres with an estimated investment of ₹3,256 crore.

He also announced a seaweed cultivation initiative aimed at generating additional livelihood opportunities for fisherwomen and women self-help groups. A training programme for seaweed cultivation was launched with support from Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute.

The Chief Minister said fishermen would continue to enjoy exclusive rights for fish cultivation and marketing in reservoirs and inland water bodies across the State. He also assured support for improving market access for fisheries products.

During his visit, Mr. Naidu inspected coastal surveillance systems, including drone-based monitoring and GPS-enabled tracking systems intended to improve fishermen safety and curb illegal intrusion into Andhra Pradesh coastal waters.

He further announced infrastructure works including road connectivity for 25 fishermen villages in the region and desilting works for the North Buckingham Canal.

Ministers Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, Atchannaidu and Farooq, along with other public representatives, participated in the programme.

AMARAVATI, May 6: The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday dismissed 51 doctors serving under the Director of Medical Education (DME) for remaining absent from duty without authorisation, Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav announced, warning that the state would brook no further negligence in public medical institutions.

The dismissed doctors include eight Associate Professors, 41 Assistant Professors, and two Tutors — several of whom had been absent from their posts for periods ranging from one year to as long as six years. The action was taken under Rule 3 of the Andhra Pradesh Civil Services (Conduct) Rules (Violation) — 1964, which empowers the government to treat prolonged unauthorised absence as deemed resignation.

"Show-cause notices were issued and adequate time was given to respond. Despite that, there was no response from these individuals," Satya Kumar Yadav said. "Those who are negligent in discharging their duties or who remain absent without authorisation will face strict action. There is absolutely no question of tolerating irresponsibility."

Absent for years, some since 2020

Among the Associate Professors dismissed, one attached to Andhra Medical College had been absent since February 7, 2020 — a period of over five years. Among the Assistant Professors, one had not reported for duty since August 22, 2022. The dismissed doctors belong to government medical colleges spread across the state, including those at Kadapa, Anantapur, Ongole, Tirupati, Vijayawada, Kakinada, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Rajamahendravaram, Eluru, Nellore, and Markapur.

Of the two Tutors dismissed, one had been absent for seven years — among the longest periods of unauthorised absence recorded in the exercise.

Charge memos bring eleven back to duty

The crackdown has already produced results in some cases. Eleven doctors who had been absent for under a year returned to duty after the DME issued charge memoranda. However, 33 others — comprising two Associate Professors and 31 Assistant Professors — have yet to report despite receiving notices, and face dismissal if they fail to join within the stipulated deadline.

In the Professor category, three individuals who had been absent for extended periods are expected to face similar punitive action shortly. Of five Professors served notices, two have since returned to duty.

Impact on patient care cited as primary concern

Officials noted that the prolonged absence of faculty from teaching hospitals had a direct and measurable impact on the quality of medical services available to patients. Many of the absentees had reportedly pursued private engagements while remaining on government rolls — a practice that had gone largely unchecked during the previous administration.

Following directions issued by the Minister, DME officials compiled detailed lists of absentees from across all government medical colleges before initiating formal proceedings under the applicable service rules.

The government has simultaneously indicated that vacancies arising from these dismissals will be filled promptly under its Zero Vacancy Policy, ensuring that the affected institutions are not left short-staffed in the interim.

With 33 more doctors yet to report and action pending against three Professors, further dismissals in the coming weeks appear likely.

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh BJP president P.V.N. Madhav called on Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in Amaravati on Wednesday and submitted a memorandum highlighting the problems faced by coastal fishermen and Home Guards in the State.

Tamil Nadu Fishermen Encroaching AP Waters

Raising the issue of illegal intrusions along the coastline, Mr. Madhav told the Chief Minister that fishermen from Tamil Nadu were regularly entering the territorial waters off Nellore, Ongole, and Bapatla, causing considerable distress to local fishing communities.

He said the intruders were arriving in speedboats, plundering marine resources, destroying the nets and boats of local fishermen, and in several instances, physically attacking them. These incidents, he warned, were creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among coastal communities and posed a serious threat to law and order in the region.

Mr. Madhav drew particular attention to a recent incident in the Juvvaladinna area of Nellore district, where local fishermen apprehended illegal boats but the concerned authorities released them without taking stringent action. He said such inaction was fuelling suspicion and demoralising those who sought to protect their livelihoods.

The BJP leader urged the government to respond without delay, take firm action against vessels entering AP waters illegally, and strengthen coastal security infrastructure along vulnerable stretches of the coastline.

Home Guards Seek Transfer Relief

Mr. Madhav also brought to the Chief Minister's attention the plight of approximately 400 Home Guards who have been posted far from their native places following the bifurcation of the State and are facing significant personal and logistical hardships as a result.

He requested the Chief Minister to initiate mutual transfer arrangements between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to enable these personnel to serve closer to their homes, and called for an early resolution to what he described as a long-pending humanitarian concern.

The Chief Minister is learnt to have received the memorandum and assured Mr. Madhav that the matters would be examined.

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh BJP State President P.V.N. Madhav on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the increasing incursions by Tamil Nadu fishermen into Andhra Pradesh's coastal waters, demanding stringent action against those responsible. In a statement issued from the BJP State office, he said the problem had reached alarming proportions along the coastlines of Nellore, Ongole, and Bapatla districts.

Speed Boats From Cuddalore, Karaikal Causing Alarm

Madhav alleged that fishermen arriving in speed boats from Cuddalore and Karaikal were illegally entering Andhra Pradesh's coastal waters and intimidating local fisherfolk. He referred to a recent incident in the Juvvaladinna area of Nellore district, where local fishermen had intercepted Tamil Nadu boats found to be operating illegally and engaging in acts of intimidation, leading to a tense standoff in the region.

Overnight Release of Seized Boats Raises Questions

The BJP State president said that despite the matter being brought to the attention of the concerned authorities, the government's response had fallen short of expectations. He was particularly critical of the overnight release of the intercepted boats and their return to Tamil Nadu, stating that such actions only deepened suspicions and left local fishermen feeling unprotected. The absence of any punitive action against those responsible, he said, had fuelled a growing sense of insecurity among the coastal communities.

Strengthen Marine Police, Revive Coastal Security Grid

Madhav outlined a series of measures he said were urgently needed to address the situation. These included the modernisation and strengthening of marine police stations, the induction of local fishermen as Home Guards, and enhanced surveillance in coordination with the Coast Guard. He also called for the revival of the Coastal Security Technical System that had been in place in 2010, and suggested that retired Navy personnel and local fishermen be redeployed under the framework to bolster coastal vigilance.

Coordinate With Tamil Nadu for Lasting Solution

Urging the State government to take firm action against those who enter Andhra Pradesh's waters illegally and resort to intimidation, Madhav also called for coordination with the Tamil Nadu government to address the issue at an inter-State level. He appealed to the Andhra Pradesh government to find a permanent solution to a problem that had persisted for several years and continued to undermine the livelihoods and safety of coastal communities.

Over 33% of target beneficiaries inoculated so far; vaccination centres to remain operational through May, says Health Minister Satyakumar Yadav

AMARAVATI : The Central government has dispatched an additional 1,90,890 doses of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to Andhra Pradesh, reinforcing the state's ongoing drive to protect adolescent girls against cervical cancer, Health and Medical Minister Satyakumar Yadav announced on Monday.

The fresh consignment follows an earlier batch of 1,90,800 doses supplied last month under the first instalment of the Central government's HPV vaccination initiative, taking the total doses received by the state to 3,81,780. The vaccine is being administered to girls in the 14 to 15 age group as part of a targeted public health intervention aimed at preventing cervical cancer.

Mr. Yadav said authorities were taking steps to distribute the newly arrived doses to districts in proportion to the number of eligible girls in each area. He confirmed that vaccination centres across the state would continue to function without interruption through May, and added that the completion of Class X public examinations was expected to further accelerate the pace of inoculation as school-going girls became more accessible.

Over One Lakh Girls Vaccinated So Far

According to data compiled from village and ward secretariats, there are approximately 3.45 lakh girls in the state who have completed 14 years of age but have not yet turned 15 — the designated target group for the current phase of the drive. Of these, 1,14,512 girls, representing 33.19 per cent of the total, had received the vaccine by Monday afternoon.

Among the districts, Kurnool recorded the highest number of beneficiaries at 6,785, followed closely by Nellore at 6,726, YSR district at 6,725, and Anantapur at 6,655. At the other end of the spectrum, Polavaram district reported the lowest coverage with 669 girls vaccinated, followed by Alluri Sitarama Raju district at 1,063, Sri Sathya Sai at 2,769, and Anakapalli at 2,959.

Cold Chain Infrastructure and Safety Protocols

The vaccine is being administered at 1,645 primary and urban health centres across the state that have been identified as having adequate cold chain storage facilities. Health officials said girls were being observed for 30 minutes after receiving the shot as a standard precautionary measure, and that no adverse reaction cases had been reported thus far.

In keeping with Central government directives, 500 doses from the first consignment were separately dispatched to Yanam. Officials noted that Andhra Pradesh was among the states in the forefront of implementing the Central guidelines on HPV vaccination, describing the initiative as a critical step towards reducing the burden of cervical cancer.

Mr. Yadav reiterated that the HPV vaccine was both safe and effective and urged parents to ensure that eligible girls in the target age group availed themselves of the free vaccination at the nearest health centre before the current drive concluded.

నెల్లూరులో కాంస్య విగ్రహ ఆవిష్కరణ

నెల్లూరు ( జర్నలిస్ట్ ఫైల్ ) : కమ్యూనిస్టు నేత మరియు ఉద్యోగ సంఘాల యోధుడు కామ్రేడ్ తోట సుధాకర్ ప్రసాద్ 23వ వర్ధంతి కార్యక్రమం ఈ రోజు ఉదయం ఘనంగా నిర్వహించారు. ఈ కార్యక్రమం సందర్భంగా, వారి సతీమణి శ్రీమతి తోట కామాక్షి సుధాకర ప్రసాద్, ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్ రెవెన్యూ సర్వీసెస్ అసోసియేషన్  ఆధ్వర్యంలో నెల్లూరు నగరంలోని వాత్సల్య వృద్ధాశ్రమంలో వృద్ధులకు పండ్లు, దుప్పట్లు పంపిణీ చేశారు.

అనంతరం, భక్తవత్సల నగర్లో రెవిన్యూ భవన్‌కు కేటాయించిన స్థలంలో కామ్రేడ్ తోట సుధాకర్ ప్రసాద్ కాంస్య విగ్రహాన్ని ఆవిష్కరించడం జరిగింది. ఈ కార్యక్రమంలో ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్ రెవెన్యూ సంఘం అధ్యక్షుడు మరియు ఏపీ జేఏసీ అమరావతి చైర్మన్ బొప్పరాజు వెంకటేశ్వర్లు , జిల్లా సంయుక్త కలెక్టర్ కే. కార్తీక్ , జిల్లా రెవెన్యూ అధికారి ఎస్. లవన్న, శ్రీమతి కామాక్షి సుధాకర్ ప్రసాద్ కుటుంబ సభ్యులు పాల్గొన్నారు.

కామ్రేడ్ తోట సుధాకర్ ప్రసాద్ సేవలపై శ్రద్ధాంజలి

శ్రీమతి కామాక్షి సుధాకర్ ప్రసాద్ మాట్లాడుతూ, తమ భర్త ఉద్యోగుల శ్రేయస్సే ధ్యేయంగా జీవితాంతం పని చేసిన వ్యక్తి అని, ఆయన కుటుంబానికి కంటే ఉద్యోగుల సంక్షేమం ఎక్కువ ప్రాధాన్యత ఇచ్చేవారని గుర్తు చేసుకున్నారు. ఆయన అంకిత భావంతో నిరంతరం ఉద్యోగుల సమస్యల పరిష్కారానికి కృషి చేశారని, చివరకు ఆశయ సాధనలో ప్రాణం కోల్పోయారని భావోద్వేగంగా తెలిపారు.

సుధాకర్ ప్రసాద్ ఆశయాల వారసత్వం

బొప్పరాజు వెంకటేశ్వర్లు మాట్లాడుతూ, కామ్రేడ్ సుధాకర్ ప్రసాద్ ఉద్యోగుల కోసం, వారి హక్కుల సాధన కోసం అప్పటి ప్రభుత్వాలతో రాజీ లేని పోరాటం చేసి ఎన్నో రాయితీలను సాధించారని కొనియాడారు. సుధాకర్ ప్రసాద్ గారి ఆశయాలను వారసత్వంగా తీసుకుని, ఉద్యోగుల సమస్యల పరిష్కారమే లక్ష్యంగా పని చేయడం సమర్థ నాయకత్వం చూపుతుందని తెలిపారు.

కార్యక్రమంలో ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్ రెవెన్యూ సర్వీసెస్ అసోసియేషన్  జనరల్ సెక్రటరీ రామిశెట్టి వెంకట రాజేష్, డివిజనల్ రెవెన్యూ అధికారి ఏ. మలోలా, నెల్లూరు జిల్లా రెవెన్యూ సంఘం నాయకులు అల్లంపాటి పెంచల రెడ్డి, తదితర నాయకులు పాల్గొన్నారు.

ఈ కార్యక్రమం ద్వారా కామ్రేడ్ సుధాకర్ ప్రసాద్ సేవలను గుర్తు చేసుకుంటూ, భవిష్యత్ లో ఆయన ఆశయాలను కొనసాగిస్తూ ఉద్యోగుల శ్రేయస్సు కోసం కృషి చేయాలని ప్రతి ఒక్కరు ప్రతిజ్ఞ చేశారు.