ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIBA) celebrated World Women’s Day on 8th March 2020 at Kovalam Village in Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu. The theme of World Women’s Day-2020 was ushering in a “Gender Equal World”. About 150 womenfolk interested in aquaculture activities from nearby villages participated in the event. The fisher women were sensitized about the opportunities available in brackishwater aquaculture like ornamental fish rearing and finfish larval rearing which the women folk could take up either as part-time or full-time activity that would help them to earn an additional income and employment. Similarly the concept of ‘fish waste to wealth’ which could address the twin challenges of ‘environmental hygiene’ and ‘employment and income generation’ was also highlighted. Success stories of the above were presented to them respectively by Dr Krishna Sukumaran, Senior Scientist, CIBA, Shri. Kennit Raj, a fisherfolk of Pattinapakkam and Smt. Chitra, Irula Tribal from Karathittu village. Shri.S.Janakiraman, Trustee of Shri Venkatraman Memorial Trust, Kovalam was the chief guest and he underlined the development activities of fisherwomen in his village and requested CIBA to take up aquaculture related activities for improving the livelihood status fisher families. Dr. D. Deboral Vimala, Principal Scientist, CIBA and coordinator of the event explained about the ICAR’s flagship programmes, ‘My Village My Pride’ (Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav’-MGMG) and ‘Tribal Sub-Plan’ (TSP) for the empowerment of women through skill development for their livelihood support. Smt. Usha Rani, AAO, ICAR -CIBA focused on the empowerment of women under the theme of Gender Equality for sustainability. Dr.R.Saraswathy, Principal Scientist, CIBA explained the possibilities of taking up CIBA’s technologies like three-tier system of cage aquaculture in open brackishwater bodies in Kovalam areas which had created positive impact and hopes of improved living standards among the women in places like Vennangupattu coastal village clusters in the district. The meeting ended with Vote of Thanks by Dr C.V Sairam, Principal Scientist & Scientist -in-Charge, Social Sciences Division, ICAR -CIBA.
