Central Institute of Fisheries Education (ICAR-CIFE) celebrated the Swachhta Pakhwara with great enthusiasm and interest. Students and staff of the institute took the oath to support and spread cleanliness on 16th May 2016 at CIFE headquarters and all its centres. Faculty members organized clean up of CIFE campus, hostels, wet lab, and coordinated students’ march to Versova beach and Versova landing centre where bags, bottles and other waste was collected. All the waste was collected in the garbage bags and handed over to BMC. The posters carried by the students carried messages about the importance of reducing use of plastic and recommending the ‘Reduce- Reuse – Recycle’ and ‘Repair and Reuse’ way of life.

At Versova landing centre they were joined by the Versova Fishermen Cooperative Society who welcomed the initiative and thanked CIFE for organizing this event and spreading awareness about the need for cleanliness.

The closing ceremony of the Pakhwara, held on 30.05.2016, was graced by Dr. (Mrs) Bharati Lavekar, Member of Legislative Assembly (Versova, Mumbai), Maharashtra, as Chief Guest. Dr. Lavekar viewed a presentation made by the Director, CIFE, Dr. Gopal Krishna of the activities of CIFE staff and students during the Pakhwara and addressed the gathering. She emphasized that in addition to Swachhta, the institute should also make efforts towards the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ program of the government. She toured the CIFE campus and facilities and suggested future activities for the betterment of the neighbourhood and society.