Addressing Sustainable Development Goal 5

13th October 2023, Sundarbans

Sustainable Development Goal 5 is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations in 2015. SDG 5 aims to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls by ending discrimination, violence, and harmful practices. The International Women's Day theme for 2023 is "Accelerating Equality & Empowerment." ICAR- Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute has initiated "Mission 3000" to adopt 3000 women across the country under the SCSP/TSP/NEH scheme, focusing on tribal womenfolk at Sagar Island, Sundarbans, and creating awareness to achieve SDG 5.

ICAR- Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute has organised one awareness and input distribution programme in collaboration with a local NGO namely Swami Vivekananda Youth and Cultural Society today to support the tribal fisher-women of Kamalpur, Sagar Island, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal under ‘Mission-3000’.

Shri. Bankim Chandra Hazra, Minister-in-Charge, Sundarban Affairs, Govt. of West Bengal was the Chief Guest. The Minister only praised the initiatives and activities of ICAR-CIFRI at Sundarbans and also ensured that any kind of co-operation on his part in future endeavours of CIFRI towards ‘Mission-3000’. He emphasised that the only way the fishers of Sundarban can produce even table-size fish and subsequently increase their income is through technological intervention and input distribution (fish seed, fish feed, and medicine) by ICAR-CIFRI.

Dr. B.K. Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, emphasised the importance of fisheries in the livelihood of the rural people and also affirmed that CIFRI would extend its support to the tribal fisherwomen of Sagar Island in their fisheries activities for livelihood improvement. Dr. Das has enlightened the fishers regarding plastic pollution and the use of pesticides.

ICAR-CIFRI has been supporting the tribal community, by providing technological inputs for rejuvenating their livelihood through fish farming under the STC programme.

(Source: ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore)