CIFRI Awards
Despite contributing majorly to household chores and being the silent worker in inland fisheries activities- the women lack the support and encouragement from their family and society. ICAR-CIFRI has taken an initiative to sensitize and motivate the rural women of the marginalized community of Sundarbans to take up ornamental fishery-based livelihood options by forming the Self Help Groups (SHGs) in their nearby vicinity. To empower the women of a marginalized community, ICAR-CIFRI holds the hands with Kultali Milantirtha, a non-profit making organization to reach the unreached of Kultali, Basanti, Sundarbans. Dr. B. K Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI distributed 55 FRP tanks of 400-liter capacity each along with ornamental fish feed, seed, aerators, thermometers to 55 women belonging to ST and SC community of seven SHGs of an amount of Rs. 4.5 lakhs (approx) to initiate ornamental fisheries on a pilot scale. About ten varieties of winter tolerant ornamental fishes (eg. Guppy, Molly, Swordtail, Gourami, Koi carp, etc.) were given to the women SHGs.
As ornamental fishery is a flagship programme of Honourable Prime Minister and taken as a key in PMMSY. ICAR-CIFRI is also trying to build up income-generating options for tribal and schedule caste community that will lead the rural populace towards ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. The initiative will also help the women folks to earn a respectable status in their societies along with providing them with an opportunity to earn an additional income for their families. Hands-on training sessions including demonstrations were also organized by the Institute on this occasion.
The programme was coordinated by Dr. Aparna Roy, Scientist, Dr. P.K Parida, Scientist, Dr. Sanjay Bhawmick, CTO, and Ms. Sangeeta Chakraborty, TA. Sri Sujit Chowdhury, ACTO documented the programme for the media coverage. An on-field demonstration was conducted by Ms. Shreya Bhattacharya, YP-II of the Institute.
