Dr. B. Shanthi

During my career I have developed 15 case studies on women in aquaculture sectors. Gender Empowerment through Suitable Brackishwater Aquaculture Technologies and assessed the gender roles and gender needs in aquaculture sector. As Principal Investigator handled a research project titled ‘Diversification of Livelihoods among Women Self Help Groups through Coastal Aquaculture Technologies’ (2007-2010), funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India. Handled project titled “Assessment on the impact of environmental changes on the livelihoods of coastal women in Tamil Nadu” (June 2012 – October 2014) as Principal Investigator funded by ICSSR, Govt. of India. Brought first CSR project for CIBA from Chennai Petro-Chemicals Limited (CPCL), Chennai and transferred brackishwater aquaculture technologies integrated with mushroom farming, poultry farming, tailoring and fish food sales. Organized many awareness and extension programmes like puppetry show, meetings, eco tours for farmers, aqua farmers meet, exhibitions, melas, workshops and seminars. Produced six short films, gave many programmes in radios and famous television channels and has citation in the dailies and websites to my credit. My research studies and interventions helped in empowerment of coastal women to overcome their social taboos in the village. Created linkages with financial, State and NGO’s institutions and beneficiaries and developed 10 successful women trainers to train and motivate new coastal women SHGs to adopt brackishwater aquaculture technologies.

• Coastal and Tribal women, families and youth development and extension studies in aquaculture sector.
• Diversification of livelihood opportunities through brackishwater aquaculture technologies integrated with other allied technologies interventions and community /societal development to the beneficiaries to create sustainable livelihoods opportunities
• Aquaculture extension & social science research

• Received ICAR award for Outstanding Interdisciplinary Team Research in Agricultural and Allied Sciences – 2011-12 as Team leader.
• Awarded the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, England – 1987. (SILVER STANDARD OF DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD) - International Award.
• Awarded the ICAR Team Research Award, for outstanding multi- disciplinary team research in agriculture and allied sciences - 1997 -1998.
• Awarded K. Chidambaram Memorial Award – 2008 from the Fisheries Technocrats Forum for extension work and women’s empowerment.
• Honour Received from the Central Govt. Staff Co-operative Thrift & Credit Society ltd., Chennai – 2015 for receiving the national award for outstanding achievement.
• Received an appreciation certificate from Dr. Meryl J Williams, FTSE (Australia), Honorary Life Member Asian Fisheries Society, Former Director General, World Fish Centre (1994 -2004) for my research contributions in aquaculture
• Received an appreciation note from Dr. Angela Lentisco Marine and Coastal Specialist, Thailand, for the work done under the Indian Council of Social Science Research, (ICSSR) project titled “Assessment on the impact of environmental changes on the livelihoods of coastal women in Tamil Nadu”.
• Facilitated 6 coastal women beneficiaries to receive the award of Fellow of Jamsetji Tata National Virtual Academy for Rural Prosperity (NVA) of Indira Gandhi Open University, New Delhi from Prof. M.S.Swaminathan, Emeritus Chairman and Chief Mentor, MSSRF, Chennai.
• Facilitated the Irular tribal farmer Smt. M. USHA, to receive the “IARI Innovative Farmers” Award”- 2016.
• Received an appreciation note from Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) of Madras Refineries Limited (MRL), Manali, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. For the appreciable work done under the CIBA-CPCL CSR Project.
• Received an appreciation note from Ayyappan, Former Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR), New Delhi, for the achievements made in this project by the project team (D.O.No. PS/ DDG (Fly) 2009/267; dated 22^nd December, 2009).
• Received an appreciation mail from Dr. S. Ayyappan, Former Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR), for the excellent organization of sea bass nursery rearing in hapas demonstration on 13^th September 2013 and for remarkable work done under the CIBA- TSP project in uplifting the irular tribal women self help groups at Kulathumedu villages of Tiruvalur dt through aquaculture technologies
• Received an appreciation note from M. Sakthivel, President Aquaculture, Foundation of India, for the excellent organization of inauguration programmes on sea bass nursery rearing in hapas, scat ornamental fish farming in tanks and mushroom farming for the tribal women Self Help Groups held during 5^th October and 10^th October 2012 at Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur dts.
• Received an appreciation note from M. Sakthivel, President Aquaculture, Foundation of India, for the excellent organization of ‘Training Cum Marketing of Farm Made Produce of Irular Tribal Women Self Help Groups (Capacity Building of Tribal Women Self Help Groups on Brackishwater Aquaculture Integrated with Agro -Based Technologies) during 26^th Dec – 28^th December 2012 at CIBA.
• Received an appreciation note from Krishna Srinath, Former Director, DRWA, Bhubaneswar, Orissa. For actively contributing to the success of crab farmers meet held at Orissa on 22^nd October 2009. And also for giving a presentations on Kinds of Mud crab fattening – A livelihood option for coastal women and ICT for aquaculture in the short course programme conducted by NRCWA.
• Received and appreciation note from Merly Williams, Former DG, World Fish Center, Malaysia on 14^th April 2011 for the excellent arrangements made during her visit to the coastal villages of Tiruvallur Districts and also for the dedicated work done by me in the fields.
• Received and appreciation note from Merly Williams, Former DG, World Fish Center, Malaysia in May 2011 for the excellent presentation made by me in the 3^rd Global Symposium on Gender in Aquaculture and Fisheries. held at Shanghai, China during April 21^st – 25^th I was also complemented as ‘Presentation Star’ of the programme
• Received an appreciation certificate from Meryl J Williams, FTSE (Australia), Honorary Life Member Asian Fisheries Society, Former Director General, World Fish Center (1994 -2004) for my research contributions in aquaculture.
• Received an appreciation note from Angela Lentisco Marine and Coastal Specialist, Thailand, for the work done under the Indian Council of Social Science Research,(ICSSR) project titled “Assessment on the impact of environmental changes on the livelihoods of coastal women in Tamil Nadu” during 2016-17.
• Gender in Aquaculture and Fisheries Section (GAF) nominated me as the Inaugural Officers of the Gender in Aquaculture and Fisheries Section (GAFS) as a Constitution Coordinator of the Asian Fisheries Society during 2016- 17 https://genderaquafish.org/gaf-section/about-us/executive-committee/

• Shanthi B, Mahalakshmi P, Chandrasekaran VS. Assessing pre and post tsunami impacts on the livelihoods of coastal women using socio-economic and gender analysis (SEAGA). Gender in Aquaculture and Fisheries: Engendering Security in Fisheries and Aquaculture. 2016 Aug 3:199-217
• Shanthi B, Mahalakshmi P, Chandrasekaran VS. Assessment of challenges faced by the coastal women due to the impact of climatic change in selected coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, India. Indian Journal of Fisheries.2017; 64 (Special Issue) 153 -159,
• Shanthi B, Mahalakshmi P, Chandrasekaran VS. Entrepreneurship Development among Coastal Fishers through Brackishwater Aquaculture Technologies. CIBA. Social Entrepreneurship in Aquaculture. 2016; 325-333.
• Shanthi B, Krishnan M, Ponniah AG. Successful women entrepreneurs in aquaculture: case studies from Tamil Nadu, India. Asian Fisheries Society. 2012; 25:177-85.
• Shanthi B, Ambasankar K, Krishnan M, Balasubramaniam CP, Kannappan S, Chandrasekaran VS, Jayamalar KM, Gayathri G. Crab fattening: a livelihood option for the coastal women Self Help Groups. Fishery Technology. 2010; 47(2).

• Shanthi B, Sairam CV and Kailasam M. Livelihood development for clam collecting coastal families through Homestead backyard pearlspot seed rearing. Infofish International; June 2020.www.infofish.
• Shanthi B, Kailasam M, Balasubramanian CP, Sairam CV. Beliefs and indigenous technical knowledge of coastal families and tribes of Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu districts in Tamil Nadu.2020; CIBA Special Publication No.81
• Williams MJ, Lentisco A, Badayos-Jover MB, Pedroza-Gutiérrez C,  Giri K, Siar S, Gopal N,  Shanthi B, Ferrer AJG,  Bañez Sumagaysay M, Sharma A. Gender as the missing link for improving climate change adaptation in fisheries and aquaculture; 2019. In Johnson J, De Young C, Bahri T, Soto D, Virapat C, eds. Proceedings of Fish Adapt: the Global Conference on Climate Change Adaptation for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Bangkok, 8–10 August, 2016.  FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Proceedings No. 61. Rome, FAO. pp 189-201