CIFRI Awards
The women involved in fishery in the country met in a conclave on “Women empowerment in fisheries” in the 13th Indian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum on 23rd February 2024. All the women present in the conclave including about 350 fisher women and significant number of researchers unanimously felt that there is serious need of raising the voice for gender equality and role of women in fisheries sector starting from the production to processing to marketing. Earlier, in the morning while inaugurating the conference, Hon’ble Parshottam Rupala Ji, Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India made a special mention of women fishers’ contribution and urged upon the gathering to focus on easing out their hardships. The three days conference (23-25 February) has been organized by
ICAR - Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI) in collaboration with the Asian Fisheries Society Indian Branch (AFSIB), Inland Fisheries Society of India (IFSI), and the Professional Fisheries Graduates Forum (PFGF), at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre – Kolkata to discuss on a roadmap for a brighter, more resilient future for Indian fisheries and aquaculture, aligning with sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the vision “Viksit Bharat@2047” of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.
Realising its importance, the organizers held a special session on this subject on the first day of the three days conference. The session was chaired by Dr. Meena Kumari, Former DDG (Fisheries sciences) and cochaired by Dr. Kiran Dubey, Emeritus scientist, ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai strong advocates of the subject. Dr. Nikita Gopal, Head, Extension Information and Statistics Division, ICAR-CIFT delivered the lead talk on “Gender equity for sustainable future of aquaculture and fisheries” and explained how role of women in fisheries sector is visibly invisible.
Dr. Kiran Dubey briefed about diverse role of women in society and fisheries sector and highlighted need for acknowledging the opportunity cost associated with their activities. The panellists also shared their views and research experience on gender roles in the sector. The panel discussed how women access to the money/ economic gains earned by them in the sector is questionable and emphasized on need for ensuring women’s financial independence to strengthen their mainstreaming in the sector. The house also discussed on the opportunities for entrepreneurship development for women in fisheries and need for women friendly technologies. The house agreed that the gender mainstreaming requires gender sensitive and socially inclusive policies, programs along with monitoring and evaluation. The chair also urged the scientific personnel present to integrate gender studies in their research projects. The women fishers attending the session opened their minds freely in expressing their hardships and also shared their views for betterment of the sector.
