Sustainable Development in Action: CIFRI’s SDG 5 Programme at Sagar Island.

Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations in 2015. SDG 5 reiterates achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. The goal aims to end discrimination, violence, and harmful practices based on gender, ensuring equal opportunities in leadership, education, and employment for women.

Earlier, “Accelerating Equality & Empowerment” perspective, ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI) has adopted 3000 women across the country under SCSP / TSP / NEH scheme to empower them economically. In this regard, an initiative was taken to address SDG 5 by creating awareness and distributing inputs to the tribal fisherfolk at Sagar Island, Sundarbans.

ICAR-CIFRI has been supporting the tribal community, one of the most vulnerable sections of the population of Sagar Island by providing technological inputs for rejuvenating their livelihood through fish farming under the STC programme. In last 10 years, CIFRI has introduced its scientific interventions in Sagar Island in different areas of fish farming like backyard pond culture, canal fisheries and fisheries in derelict waters. These interventions have brought an alternative source of income generation for the beneficiaries leading to a significant enhancement in their annual income.

Team CIFRI comprising scientists, technical staff and research scholars under the leadership of its Director, Dr. B. K. Das conducted an input distribution and awareness program at Sagar Island, Sundarbans on the 09^th. February, 2025 to support the livelihood of tribal fishers of Kamalpur, Sagar Island, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, organised in collaboration with a local NGO namely Swami Vivekananda Youth and Cultural Society. Overall, the programme was successfully organized by the CIFRI

Mr. Bankim Chandra Hazra, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Sundarban Affairs, Govt. of West Bengal have graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The Honourable Minister not only praised the initiatives and activities of ICAR-CIFRI at Sundarbans, but have also ensured such relentless cooperation in future endeavors. He conveyed heartfelt thanks to team CIFRI and the Director, Dr. B. K. Das for this initiative. He emphasised that only through the technological intervention and input distribution (fish seed, fish feed and medicine) by ICAR-CIFRI, the fishers of Sundarban are able to produce even table size fish and subsequently, enhancing their income.

While delivering the key notes, Dr. B.K. Das, Director, ICAR- CIFRI emphasised on the importance of fisheries in the livelihood & economic self-dependency of the rural people, thereby reaffirming CIFRI’s support to the tribal fisherwomen of Sagar Island in their fisheries activities for livelihood improvement.

Dr. Das has simultaneously adviced fishers to refrain from plastic pollution and the use of pesticides. In this programme, CIFRI distributed fisheries inputs to 251 Schedule Tribe fishers who have backyard ponds with an average area ranging from 0.02 ha to 0.04 ha in their household. All the households belonging to Scheduled Tribe community residing in Sagar Island have been covered in this programme. CIFRI has distributed 6 kg of IMC seeds, 20 kg of lime and 90 kg of fish feed to each beneficiary in this programme under the Scheduled Tribe Component.

ICAR-CIFRI have also given a FRP Carp Hatchery to Sagar Kirshnanagar Swami Vivekananda Youth Cultural Society under SC Sub Plan. It was given to produce quality seeds in this region which aims at sustainable production.

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