Ranchi: A-Help scheme was launched in the auditorium of Animal Husbandry and Cooperative Building located at Hesag to provide relief to the livestock farmers of rural as well as urban areas from veterinary related problems.
Inaugurating the scheme, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperation Minister Badal said that the government has set a target of ensuring 20 percent contribution of agriculture and animal husbandry in the state’s GDP.
In view of this, the department is starting schemes at various levels. Giving information regarding A-Help, he said that this scheme will bring a change in the lifestyle of the rural areas of the state and will also change the thinking of the cattle herders.
He said that under the A-Help scheme, a target has been set to train Pashu Sakhis, because there is a need to change the traditional thinking regarding animal husbandry, so that changes can be made by incorporating the scientific method and giving it the form of entrepreneurship.
Shri Badal said that there was a time when we started the dairy, when only 80 thousand liters of milk was collected daily. But, with continuous efforts, today we are collecting two and a half lakh liters of milk every day. About 50 thousand farmers have been linked to this entrepreneurship. We are also going to give subsidies on cattle feed. Also, our effort is to establish a milk powder plant in the state.
He said that soon milk plants will be started in Jamshedpur and Giridih. Regarding drought, he said that this time the monsoon has cheated and when it rained, it was unseasonal, due to which agriculture has suffered huge losses. Farmers have been hit twice by excessive rainfall, hence animal husbandry can become a better option for rural areas. Big work is going to be done regarding poultry farming in Bokaro and egg production in Gumla. Our government has provided KCC to 4.5 lakh farmers. Also, agricultural loans of 5 lakh farmers have been waived off. Apart from this, an amount of Rs 732 crore of pending insurance for 2018-19 has been made available to the farmers.
He said that we have given the benefit of the livestock scheme to 42 thousand beneficiaries. Addressing the Pashu Sakhis, he said that during the training of A-Help, you will get a lot of information and after getting that information, you will have to play an important role in serving the animals in rural areas. We are soon going to provide insurance facilities to the livestock farmers to realize the vision of Chief Minister Hemant Soren regarding livestock.
Regarding caste certificates, he said that for the benefit of the livestock scheme, you can get the caste certificate made from your Panchayat head, village head only. For this no woman needs to go outside or to her maternal home.
Jharkhand State President of Cow Seva Commission, Rajeev Ranjan said that this is an opportunity for us. Therefore, our responsibility increases even more to continue our efforts for the success of this scheme. He said that to implement this module seriously in the state, Pashu Sakhis will have to play an important role.
Alka Upadhyay, Secretary, Animal Husbandry Department, Government of India, while addressing the animal friends online, said that better work has been done in the field of livelihood in Jharkhand. Many organizations have been formed. Out of them, women are working at a great pace in about 15 organizations and it is clear from these figures that a large number of women of Jharkhand are associated with the field of milk production.
He said that a target has been set to make 2 crore women millionaires across the country and dairy industry is one such sector in which the target can be easily achieved by involving two crore women. He said that the Rural Development Department is also providing services in rural areas through various schemes. We have also started a mobile veterinary clinic. Our effort is to connect women associated with the dairy industry with the service sector as well.
Addressing the program, Secretary of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperation Department, Abu Bakar Siddiqui said that the lives of animals are as important as ours and those of our families. Therefore, dedication in serving animals should be the same as the dedication we show towards our family. Through the A-Help scheme, Pashu Sakhis have to directly connect with the animal farmers and also have to serve as volunteers along with community service.
While giving suggestions regarding training, he said that while training animal companions, training should also be given on what are the schemes of the department and what procedures need to be completed to avail their benefits.
He also talked about publishing a book in this regard. Addressing the program, Director of Animal Husbandry Department, Aditya Ranjan said that animal husbandry has an important contribution in livelihood. It is the endeavor of the department that there should be a change in entrepreneurship development and breed development. Besides, A-Help has been started to provide health facilities to the animals at their homes.
For this, groups have been formed at the community level, which are being given training. This is a strong step taken towards women empowerment. This scheme has been launched in eight states so far. The magazine of the training module schedule was released in the programme. Besides, training kits were given as a symbolic gesture to 6 Pashu Sakhis who took training.
On this occasion, Assistant Livestock Commissioner of the Government of India, Sulekha, Senior Manager of NDDP, Lalit Prasad and many officials of the Animal Husbandry Department and animal friends were present.