The Bengal government’s budget on Thursday announced aid of Rs 5,000 per month for fishermen during the period of fishing ban in the sea, apparently to woo the community that forms a major vote bank in three coastal districts.

A source said the state allotted Rs 200 crore for this new scheme, Samudra Sathi, a long-standing demand of fishermen as their earnings take a beating during the fishing ban from mid-April to mid-June.

The state has two lakh registered fishermen across East Midnapore, North and South 24-Parganas. All will get the scheme’s benefits.

“Our fishermen of the coastal districts... go deep into the turbulent sea to earn their livelihood. As there is a ban on fishing for two months from mid-April to mid-June, the livelihood of the fishermen is adversely impacted.... I am happy to announce a new scheme, Samudra Sathi, to extend financial assistance of Rs 5,000 per month for two months, to each registered fisherman of the three districts,” said finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya during her budget speech.

A Trinamul source said this was a political masterstroke by chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Many fishermen stay in East Midnapore, the home turf of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.