The main objective of Scheduled Caste SubPlan is to give a thrust to family oriented schemes of economic development of SCs below the poverty line, by providing resources for filling the critical gaps and for providing missing vital inputs for their livelihood improvement. ICAR-CIFRI is implementing SCSP schemes to empower SC population through the input of fisheries  and also imparting knowledge of fisheries technology.

Wetland fisheries enhancement through pen culture and culture-based fisheries

SCSP programme was carried to socio-economic status of the SC community through the development of inland open water fisheries. Culture-based fisheries for sustainable wetland management and pen culture technologies were successfully demonstrated in five wetlands from West Bengal, namely, Chamordaha, Beledanga, Kumli, Panchita and Chamta beel from West Bengal, and Kespura-Paikasida wetland of Odisha.  IMC (catla, rohu and mrigal) and grass carp fish seed were raised in HDEP pen installed in the wetlands for advanced fingerling production which were then stocked in the wetlands for culture based fisheries for the enhancement of fish production. Apart from the stocking of fish through seed raising in pen, fish fingerlings were also provided separately to complement the deficiency of fish seed required to attain the fish yield potential of the six wetland.  Apart from these 6 wetlands, 7 more wetlands of West Bengal were adopted this year for pen culture and culture based fisheries. In all the 7 wetlands pen culture demonstration has been initiated by providing the CIFRI HDPE pen, fish seed, coracle and CIFRI feed.

Few of the pen structures were destroyed during Amphan cyclone in the selected wetlands. New pen, fish seed, feed and fishing boat and other supports were given in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic situation as a post Amphan cyclone support to the fishermen of the wetlands of West Bengal.

Women empowerment through ornamental fisheries

Ornamental fish culture was demonstrated for livelihood improvement of the fishers of the SC community of Amatali and Kochukali of Sundarbans, West Bengal.  Seventy (70) ornamental culture kit and FRP tanks were distributed in the two villages. Another two ornamental fish clusters were developed this year in west Bengal. Twenty five numbers of ornamental culture kit and FRP tanks were provided to the fishers of Khalsi wetland and 35 ornamental culture kit and FRP tanks were provided to the fishers of Kultali, West Bengal. During Amphan cyclone few ornamental kits were destroyed, so new implements were provided to those beneficiaries. 

Fish production enhancement from rainfed backyard ponds

Fish production enhancements from individual ponds were also targeted this year under SCSP. The fish farmers were sensitized and provided with fish farming inputs. In Kultali area of Sunderban, 196 fishers were provided with fish seed, lime and fish feed for their livelihoods improvement. In Santiniketan, Birbhum district of West Bengal, 77 SC families were provided with the inputs like fish seed, fish feed and lime for fish culture in their individual ponds. Sagar island was most affected in Cyclone “Amphan”. for the livelihoods improvement of the fish farmers, sensitization for the necessary steps for fish production enhancement was carried out and 250 SC beneficiaries were provided with fish seed, feed and lime.