CIFRI Awards
Barrackpore, Kolkata, W.B.
ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute organized one exposure visit for the officials and elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions of Odisha during 28th–30th October, 2025 in which State Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (SIRD) under Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Dept., Govt. of Odisha has nominated the participants for this visit to West Bengal.
The main objective of this visit was to provide the visitors a first hand knowledge as well as showcasing few best practices in the areas of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj of West Bengal. The Programme was inaugurated by Dr. B. K. Das, Director of ICAR-CIFRI with his formal welcome address and then he discussed with them about the origin and research activities of CIFRI. He also elaborated about the importance of inland fisheries sector in promoting the livelihood security of the fish farmers, fishers and fish-entrepreneurs as well as the nutritional security of the people. The visiting representatives of PRIs of Odisha also interacted with scientists of the institute and gained a preliminary knowledge about the research facilities available in the institute. The team visited 3 Gram Panchayats of Basanti, South 24 Parganas of West Bengal namely Joygopalpur, Jyotishpur and Jharkhali. The visit was really an effective learning experience for them as these areas fall under the world heritage site of Sunderban of West Bengal and moreover, they interacted with the representatives of those GPs and discussed with them about various means and methods they are following for the ground water recharge, control the plastic pollution as well as the water pollution, sanitation of the rural people, employment generation and livelihood security of the rural population under the respective GP etc. 
The team also visited the mangrove forest areas of Sunderban where they realize how these mangroves can help in soil conservation in the coastal areas. The members of the local GPs of Sunderban also presented before the visitors of PRIs of Odisha regarding the impact of climate change in the day-to-day life of the rural populace of Sunderban and how the Panchayats are working to combat those impacts with the help of local people’s participation. Overall, the exposure visit was ended with satisfactory remarks of the officials and elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions of Odisha. This exposure visit was successfully organized and conducted by Dr. Aparna Roy and Dr. P. K. Parida under the able leadership of Dr. B. K. Das, Director, CIFRI.
