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Ganga Innovation Meet Brings Science, Policy and Communities Together for River Sustainability

14^th January, 2025
Barrackpore Kolkata, West Bengal

River Ganga, one of the world’s most sacred and life-sustaining rivers, supports rich aquatic biodiversity and provides livelihoods, food security, and cultural identity to millions of people across its vast basin. The ICAR–Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR–CIFRI), Barrackpore, organising the three-day “Ganga Innovation Meet 2026” from January 13 to 15 under the Namami Gange Programme. The national-level meet focused on reviewing project progress and fostering informed deliberations on sustainable riverine fisheries.

The central theme, “Biodiversity Conservation, Stock Enhancement & Small-scale Fisheries in the Ganga River Basin,” highlighted the integration of science, policy and community participation. Researchers, policymakers, implementing agencies and field practitioners from across the country participated to exchange scientific findings, policy perspectives and field-level experiences related to aquatic biodiversity, native fish stock enhancement and livelihood security of small-scale fisheries-dependent communities.
The programme was inaugurated in the presence of Chief Guest Prof. (Dr.) Vijay Laxmi Saxena, Former General President, Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA). The Honoured Guests included Prof. Ashok Kumar Saxena, Former General President, ISCA; Dr. K. K. Vass, Former Director, ICAR–CIFRI; Prof. (Dr.) Kuldeep K. Sharma, Former Vice-Chancellor, Himalayan University; Dr. M. R. Sinha, Former Director, ICAR–CIFRI; Prof. (Dr.) Anil P. Sharma, Former Director, ICAR–CIFRI; and Prof. B. N. Pandey, President, Zoological Society of India, Gaya.

Addressing the gathering, Prof. (Dr.) Vijay Laxmi Saxena said, “Protecting the Ganga’s fisheries requires science-based action, ecological restoration and strong community participation to safeguard biodiversity and livelihoods.” Other dignitaries also emphasised the importance of evidence-based interventions and community-centric approaches for ensuring the long-term health of the river and its fisheries.
Welcoming the distinguished guests, Dr. B. K. Das, Director, ICAR–CIFRI, highlighted the impact of scientific interventions under the Namami Gange Programme. He stated, “The impact of ranching is clearly reflected in the increased landings of Indian Major Carps, with rises of 24.70 per cent at Prayagraj and 41 per cent at Varanasi compared to 1959, demonstrating the effectiveness of stock enhancement interventions.”

A key highlight of the meet was the release of books and awareness leaflets developed under the Namami Gange Programme, followed by the felicitation of the eminent guests. A distinctive feature of the event was the daily conduct of “Ganga Ranching,” during which native fish species were released as both a symbolic and practical step towards stock enhancement and biodiversity conservation. To promote environmental awareness among the younger generation, a “Ganga Quiz” was organised for school students, which witnessed enthusiastic participation. During Ganga Fishers-Academia-Research Conclave, fishers across the country joined in large number.
The event also recorded strong community engagement. During the Ganga Aarti, large numbers of local residents, including fishers, participated in the programme, reflecting widespread public support for river conservation initiatives. Technical sessions, panel discussions and experience-sharing meetings were held throughout the three days to assess ongoing interventions under Namami Gange and to identify scalable models for sustainable fisheries development.

The Ganga Innovation Meet 2026 successfully strengthened collaboration among research institutions, government agencies and stakeholders, and is expected to contribute significantly to the conservation of aquatic biodiversity, enhancement of native fish stocks and improvement of livelihoods for communities dependent on the Ganga River Basin.