Port Blair, June 01: ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair celebrated the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Pakhwara which began from 16.05.2016. The fortnightly long celebration started with the pledge taking ceremony by all the staff members of ICAR-CIARI on 16th May 2016. After the pledge taking ceremony, all the staff members took part in cleanliness drive in and around the Institute premises.
On May 25, an awareness programme on Clean/Green farming was organised at Lal Pahar village of Chouldari Gram Panchayat. Dr. S. Dam Roy, Director, ICAR-CIARI was the chief guest, while Mr Mohan Haldar, Pradhan, Chouldari Panchayat, Mr Asim Baidya, Up- Pradhan were the guests of honour. The programme was attended by Mr Murali, Samiti member farmers of the Lal Pahar village. Scientists from CIARI and KVK also attended the programme as expert members.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. S. Dam Roy, informed that Lal Pahar village has been adopted by the CIARI to undertake various activities under Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) for the upliftment and development of agriculture and allied sector in the village. He also added that, base line survey of the Lal Pahar and Bachra Pahar village will be undertaken by the institute and accordingly various technological interventions will be initiated by the Scientists. He urged the farmers to adopt the concept of green farming by converting the agricultural waste into compost. He thanked Pradhan and all the PRI members for their support and cooperation. Mr Mohan Haldar, Pradhan thanked ICAR-CIARI for selecting the Lal Pahar village under the SBM programme and requested the Director to include Bachra Pahar village also. He informed that there are lot of scope for technological intervention in the areas such as field crops mainly paddy cultivation, plantation crops, fisheries and poultry farming. He assured the Director for full support and cooperation in implementation of the various technological interventions in the adopted village.
Mr Asim Baidya, Up-Pradhan expressed his gratitude and thanks to the CIARI for implementation of clean and green farming in the Lal Pahar and Bachra Pahar village and assured fullest cooperation in successful implementation of the programme.Dr. B. Gangaiah, Dr. R.K. Gautam, Dr. R. Kirubasankar, Dr. Nagesh Ram also delivered talks on the clean and green farming concept. Dr. A. Velmurgan and Dr. T.P. Swarnam demonstrated the vermicompost technology and preparation of compost by using the agricultural wastes, leaves, etc.
After the awareness programme, all participated in the cleanliness drive in and around the temple premises and playground area. On this special occasion, tree planting was also done in and around the playground area. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Pakhwara concluded with the valedictory function held on 31.05.2016 at CIARI, wherein, Shri. Rishikesh Sinha, Sr Scientific Officer & Nodal Officer, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, DST, delivered a talk on “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: Role of Community”. The whole programme was conducted under the chairmanship of Dr. S. Dam Roy, Director, ICAR-CIARI and coordinated by Dr. Jai Sunder, Nodal Officer, SBM, ICAR-CIARI.
