Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra (VBSY) is organised by the Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI in the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu.
Through the various Krishi Vigyan Kendras situated in Tamil Nadu, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research has coordinated the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in Tamil Nadu. The objective of the yatra is to highlight the various schemes of the Central Government and raise awareness through outreach activities in villages, small towns, and cities. also, to enrol the beneficiaries of such schemes. The Ramanathapuram district was led by Dr. S. Vallal Kannan, Programme Coordinator and District Nodal Officer, ICAR-KVK, Ramanathapuram, for organising the VBSY programme. As part of this yatra VBSY programme, the Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI actively participated, and the VBSY was conducted in 68 Gram Panchayats of the Mandapam, Raja Singa Mangalam, Paramakudi, and Nainarkovil Blocks of Ramanathapuram Districts from December 15, 2023, to January 25, 2024. In this programme, officials from the Departments of Fisheries, Agriculture, Horticulture, and Animal Husbandry elucidated the public on various central government schemes. Also, these events spotlighted diverse Central Government schemes such as the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, the Ayushman Card, the soil health card, the Kisan Credit Card, the Prime Minister's LPG scheme, the utilisation of drone technology in agriculture, and various farmers' insurance schemes. General health camps and awareness programmes (tuberculosis and sickle cell anaemia) were organised by the health department. Scientists from the MRC, ICAR-CMFRI, and representatives of the fisheries department elaborated on all PMMSY schemes. The natural farming practices were explained by the KVK officials of Ramanathapuram. The various schemes—leaflets, brochures, booklets, calendars, caps, T-shirts, and badges—were distributed to the public to create awareness. Furthermore, as a part of the event, Madras Fertilisers Ltd. showcased the application of nano-fertilizer spraying using drone technology to benefit farmers. Day nodal officers have explained to farmers insights into the latest agricultural technologies aimed at enhancing farm produce yields.
Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, the Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, has participated in the VBSY programme at Kavanoor and A.R. Mangalam GPs. Other dignitaries like Dr. Vageesh Tiwari, IRAS, Director, MeitY, and local administrative officials of Ramanathapuram have also participated in this programme. Shri. M. Rajkumar, Scientist, Shellfish Fisheries Division, and Shri. S. Thirumalaiselvan, Scientist, Marine Biodiversity and Environment Management Division, Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI, served as the Day Nodal Officers for organising VBSY programmes in the allotted GPs of Ramanathapuram district.
