The following steps have been taken to address the health and nutrition of the animals reared by nomads and also ensure that policy incentives reach to them:

1. The Department of Animal husbandry & Dairying, Government of India requested the Animal Husbandry Department of State Government of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim, J&K, Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh to provide detailed information about the existing pastoralist population in their States including their number, type and number of animal reared, existing routes of migration, seasonality, approximate production, marketing channels and inputs provided by Government Agencies and related schemes existing if any etc. It was also requested to provide inputs about the challenges faced by these pastoralists and scope of improvement through Government assistance. The States of Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir has provided information.
2. There are many existing schemes implemented by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India under which assistance can be provided to nomadic communities rearing livestock. A compilation of all such schemes have been prepared and circulated to all State Animal Husbandry Departments.
3. A virtual meeting was convened on 7^th September, 2022 with the State Animal Husbandry Departments and representatives of pastoral communities under the Chairmanship of Secretary to discuss Status of pastoralist community in State, assistance provided to pastoralist community by State Government, challenges faced by pastoralist communities and scope of intervention by State & Central Government.
4. The facilities of ‘Kisan Credit Cards’ is also extended for all livestock including sheep and goat.
5. A pastoral cell has been constituted in the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India under overall supervision of Joint Secretary, National Livestock Mission to prioritize the enabling policies and to address the issues related to pastorals.
6. A one day physical interaction with the representatives of pastoral communities, State Government representatives, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and ICAR institutes was convened on 27^th January, 2023, under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Government of India.
7. The Department of Animal husbandry & Dairying, Government of India has taken up vaccination, on national scale, against economically important animal diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Brucellosis, Peste Petits Ruminants (Goat plague), Classical Swine Fever (Hog cholera). In addition, States are also assisted financially for vaccination of animals against State-priority diseases across the country which helps in saving of lives of animals. Assistance, including providing veterinary services is given under the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme of the Department.

The following efforts have been made to popularize the Ayurvedic medicines and treatment:

1. A Memorandum of Understanding between Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India and Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India was signed on 7th April, 2021 to introduce the concept of Ayurveda and its allied disciplines into veterinary science by their promotion in research and development including research on new formulations in quality drugs for veterinary science through medicinal herbs.
2. A committee has also been constituted in the Department to develop a curriculum on Pashu Ayurveda/Veterinary Ayurveda and Eethno-veterinary medicines to introduce in B.V.Sc & A.H curriculum as an integrative curriculum to understand the concepts and its applications on animal health.
3. Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has also advised for use of herbal formulation in treatment of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD).
4. National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has developed an Android and web- based application called "e-GOAPLA". for direct use by farmers. It helps farmers in the management of some common diseases of dairy animals. Mastitis, indigestion, diarrhea, LSD etc. and recommends use of Ethno-Veterinary Medicine (EVM).

This information was given by Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

***

SS/RKM

(Release ID: 1909227)