Haryana Government is going to launch a new scheme for the dairy farmers of the state. The name of this scheme is Pashu Sanjeevni Sewa Yojana / Scheme for providing quality healthcare services to livestock through mobile veterinary clinics free of cost.

Facts :

• Haryana Government has decided to introduce “Pashu Sanjeevni Sewa” in the state under which free of cost quality veterinary services and health care facilities for the livestock would be made available at the doorstep of livestock farmers through mobile veterinary clinics.
• A decision to this effect was taken in the meeting of Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar Lal.
• To begin with, this service would be started in all blocks of three districts namely Jind, Yamunanagar and Nuh .After the success of the pilot run, the scheme would be replicated in other districts also.
• 88 million milk producing animals out of 300 million cattle and buffaloes are being identified using polyurethane tags with 12 digit unique identification (UID) number.
• Data of the identified animals is being uploaded on Information Network on Animal Health and Productivity (INAPH) data base.
• The mobile veterinary services would be started in uncovered, staff deficient and remote areas of the State in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
• The scheme would not only help in providing prompt emergency veterinary services to the livestock but also keep a check on the activities of quacks.
• The livestock farmers would be able to avail the service of mobile veterinary clinics 24x7 after giving a call on toll free number 1962. One mobile vehicle would be pressed into service in each block of these three districts to provide emergency veterinary services and health care facilities to the livestock.
• Each mobile vehicle would have a three-member team comprising a veterinary doctor, one para vet and one helper cum driver. A modest fee of Rs 100 per visit per owner would be charged from the livestock owner. However, the treatment and medicines would be provided free of cost.
• Besides providing quality routine diagnostic facilities and better sero-surveillance of important livestock diseases, the livestock farmers would also be provided quality referral veterinary health services and extension activities at the doorstep of the livestock of farmers.

Analysis :

• This scheme is in line with the National Mission on Bovine Productivity scheme.
• The state has 1018 Veterinary Hospitals, seven polyclinics and 1814 veterinary dispensaries.
• The department is working at a large scale on milk processing. In the same series, a milk processing unit has been established at Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (LUVAS), Hisar to provide fresh milk products to the consumers.
• The Pashu Sanjivni is crucial for control and spread of animal diseases, scientific management of animals, enhanced production and productivity, improvement in quality of livestock & livestock products, increase in trade of livestock and livestock products by meeting out sanitary and phtyosanitory issues.

Background :

• At present 85 million animals are in milk while records on breeding, productivity, treatment and vaccination are not properly maintained by State Animal Husbandry Departments as system for maintaining records on the above aspects is not yet evolved in the country.
• Due to absence of records on animal identification and traceability it is not possible to separate healthy animals/animal products obtained from healthy animals and diseased animals/products obtained from diseased animals. This is Major cause of concern with regard to spread of diseases among animal population and spread of zoonotic diseases among human beings.
• Most of the veterinary hospitals and dispensaries are stationary and veterinary services are not available at farmers’ doorstep.
• Emergency facility in the form of dedicated helpline is not available to livestock owners.
• Country is facing difficulty in expanding trade of livestock and livestock products as we have not established animal identification and traceability to meet sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements.

Solution :

Launching of Animal Wellness Programme ‘ Pashu Sanjivani- with the components of :

• Nakul Swasthya Patra (Health cards)
• Emergency Help Line and
• MAITRIs at Farmers doorstep.