ICAR-CIBA conducted an awareness campaign through a “puppet show” on brackishwater aquaculture and agro-based technologies based livelihood opportunities for the Schedule Tribes and Schedule Caste families on 13.10.2023 at Kattur village in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu. About 170 participants including school children, SC/ST families and villagers from Kattur and Kulathumedu, and nearby villages participated in the event. A ‘folklore puppetry show’ was arranged which highlighted fisheries based livelihood options for coastal families adopting self-help-group approach, climate change, biodiversity conservation and sustaining livelihoods, clean India, hygiene living and cleanliness, importance of education, welfare schemes and insurance policy available for the brackishwater aquaculture sector. The show was performed by Mr.Kalaivanan Bommalatam Arts Group, Tamil Nadu.
The programme was conducted as per the directions of Dr. Kuldeep Kumar Lal, Director, ICAR-CIBA, who has outlined the content of the puppetry show to enlighten the villagers. Mrs.Jaya, Irula tribal women (beneficiary of CIBA) of Laximipuram ST village, Kattur, who received a honor from CIBA for successfully doing crab farming and seabass nursery rearing in hapas (in open waters), was felicitated during this programme. This programme was graced by Mr. K.C.Selvaraman, Panchayat President, Kattur village along with Mr.Sanjivi Perumal, Revenue Inspector, Mr. Nalieshwaran Rao, Village Administrative officer and Mr. C.Thiyagarajan, Ward Member, Kattur village. Dr.B.Shanthi and Dr.P.Mahalakshimi, Principal Scientists, Social Sciences Division of CIBA jointly organized this event. This programme was well received and appreciated by the villagers.
