Hon'ble Governor of Uttar Pradesh Smt. Anandiben Patel, commended ICAR-NBFGR's initiative Mission Navshakti for Advancing Women Empowerment & Sustainable Livelihoods at Matra Shakti Conclave-2026, Ayodhya

28 June 2026, Lucknow

Hon'ble Governor of Uttar Pradesh Smt. Anandiben Patel, commended ICAR-NBFGR's initiative Mission Navshakti for Advancing Women Empowerment & Sustainable Livelihoods at Matra Shakti Conclave-2026, Ayodhya.

Appreciating the scientific and community-oriented approach of the programme, the Hon'ble Governor described Mission Navshakti as an inspiring and replicable model for women's empowerment, where 570 women have already been trained under Mission Navshakti.

During the programme, Dr Kajal Chakraborty, Director, ICAR-NBFGR and Dr. Poonam Jayant Singh, Nodal Officer SCSP component of ICAR-NBFGR were honoured with Certificates of Appreciation by the Hon'ble Governor.

A MoU was signed between ICAR-NBFGR and the Chief Development Officer, Ayodhya, to strengthen collaboration for women-led livelihood development, entrepreneurship promotion, and economic empowerment.

Recently, ICAR-NBFGR organized Training & Interaction programme during 9-11 June 2026, on ornamental fisheries, aquarium fabrication & micro-entrepreneurship under Mission Navshakti, SCSP component in collaboration with DMMU-NRLM, RIRD & district administration, Ayodhya.

Mrs Dhanalakshmi K. (IAS), Director General, Uttar Pradesh Fisheries Department, highlighted ornamental fisheries as an economically viable livelihood option capable of generating sustainable income for rural women.

Shri Krishna Kumar Singh (IAS), Chief Development Officer, Ayodhya, assured institutional support for developing market linkages through the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), thereby facilitating commercialization of women-led enterprises.

Successful entrepreneurs shared their entrepreneurial journeys, motivating participants to establish ornamental fisheries-based enterprises.

As part of the livelihood intervention, ornamental fishes were released into village ponds at Tulsi Tara Dadera, Masaudha, while solar kits and aquarium kits were distributed to selected beneficiaries to facilitate enterprise establishment at the household level.

(Source: ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow)