Skilled Support Staff who help the scientists in their research and development activities seldom get attention and opportunities to enhance their skill sets. It is important that they also need to be heard and supported by conducting relevant capacity enhancement programmes. In this context, ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIBA), Chennai conducted a three-day special training course first-of-its-kind on “Enhancing the work efficiency of Skilled Support Staff” during 3-5, March 2021. Fifteen skilled support staff attended the training. Dr.K.K.Vijayan, Director, CIBA who inaugurated a training programme underlined the importance of support staff and emphasized that physical health and peace of mind are important to perform better in their work place. Sessions on healthy life style, yoga and importance of balanced diet for maintaining good health were respectively handled by experienced trainers. Further, interactive sessions on work efficiency, ethics in work place, office procedures and financial rules were explained to them with practical case studies and team building games. A demo was given on ICAR-ERP module for personal data applications like applying for leave and pay-slip generation. The staff were of the view that this is the first time such training is organized for the support staff and thanked the Director and coordinators for the same. The training programme was coordinated by Dr.Deboral Vimala, Principal Scientist & Dr.M.Makesh, Principal Scientist & Scientist-In-Charge, HRD Cell, CIBA.
