Why in News?

• Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the 'A-HELP' (Accredited Agent for Health and Expansion of Livestock Production) program in the state at Survey of India Auditorium, Dehradun.

Key Points:

=> On this occasion, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that under the A-Help scheme envisaged by the Government of India, women have been selected to strengthen livestock related activities in remote rural areas.

=> Trained A-HELP workers under 'A-HELP- Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production' program to prevent various infectious diseases in animals, artificial insemination under Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) will make significant contributions in tagging and animal insurance.

=> He said that this would be an incomparable example of ensuring inclusion and participation of women power for socio-economic upliftment as per the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

=> Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Minister of Uttarakhand Saurabh Bahuguna said that the livestock sector offers a very important opportunity for women but till now it lacked institutional support.

=> This gap will be bridged with the launch of the A-HELP programme.

=> This new band of community-based activists, designated as Accredited Agents for the Health and Extension of Livestock Production (A-HELP), is expected to fill the void between local veterinary institutions, livestock owners and provide primary services.

=> Under the RGM, livestock breed improvement programs will be organized with the help of a large number of trained A-Help workers who are interested in undergoing artificial insemination after additional training.

=> A-Help workers will play an important role in implementing the Pashudhan Bima Yojana as well as other interventions, for which they will be provided remuneration as per the provisions of the scheme, which will also help them in providing some income and financial security.

=> It is noteworthy that the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) has launched this new initiative by signing an MoU with the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) under the Department of Rural Development (DORD), Govt.

=> The primary responsibility of A-Help workers is to meet the health care needs of the livestock population in the village.

=> This program is being successfully implemented in Madhya Pradesh, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

=> More than 500 participants including progressive farmers and animal friends took part in this programme.