The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the revision of the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme — a move aimed at strengthening India's animal healthcare system, as disclosed by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday.
The revamped scheme comes with an outlay of Rs 3,880 crore for two years and introduces a new component — Pashu Aushadhi — to improve access to affordable generic veterinary medicines.
LHDCP will now operate under three components:
National Animal Disease Control Programme.
Livestock Health And Disease Control.
Critical Animal Disease Control Programme.
Establishment and strengthening of veterinary hospitals and mobile veterinary units.
Assistance to States for control of animal diseases
Pashu Aushadhi: A new addition focusing on quality veterinary medicines.
The government has earmarked Rs 75 crore under Pashu Aushadhi to ensure easy availability of generic veterinary drugs, through PM-Kisan Samriddhi Kendras and cooperative societies.
"The scheme also supports door-step delivery of livestock health care through the subcomponents of Mobile Veterinary Units and improving availability of generic veterinary medicine — Pashu Aushadhi through network of PM-Kisan Samriddhi Kendra and Cooperative Societies," said the release.
Diseases such as foot and mouth disease, Brucellosis, Peste des Petits Ruminants, Cerebrospinal Fluid, and Lumpy Skin Disease significantly impact livestock productivity and rural incomes. Through a combination of vaccination, surveillance, and better veterinary services, the revised LHDCP aims to minimise economic losses for farmers, as per the release.
Beyond disease control, the scheme is expected to boost livestock productivity by reducing disease outbreaks, generate employment in rural veterinary services, encourage entrepreneurship in animal healthcare and enhance doorstep veterinary care through mobile veterinary units.
The cabinet further approved the construction of a ropeway project worth Rs 4,081.28 crore from Sonprayag to Kedarnath, spanning 12.9 km in the meeting.
The ropeway project was built to facilitate environment-friendly, comfortable and fast connectivity for pilgrims visiting Kedarnath and reduce the time taken to travel in one direction to 36 minutes from eight to nine hours.
Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.