Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying inaugurated Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) in Karnataka to provide veterinary services at the farmer’s doorstep based on the phone calls received at the Call Centre from the farmers. Shri Basavaraj Bommai, Karnataka Chief Minister and Shri Prabhu B Chavan, Karnataka Minister for Animal Husbandry also graced the inauguration event.
The overall aim of the ‘Livestock Health & Disease Control programme’ of the Government of India is to improve animal health by way of implementation of prophylactic vaccination programmes against various diseases of livestock and poultry, capacity building, disease surveillance and strengthening of veterinary infrastructure.
Shri Rupala during the inauguration event has announced that in order to increase the accessibility of veterinary services at farmer’s doorsteps, funds for Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) will be provided to the States/UTs under this scheme @ 1 MVU for every one lakh livestock population. These MVUs will be customized fabricated vehicles for veterinary healthcare with equipment for diagnosis, treatment & minor surgery, audiovisual aids and other basic requirements for the treatment of animals.
The Minister said that this is the best programme to assist farmers and dairy owners to take care of the health of their dairy animals at the right time and to double the farmer’s income thereby uplifting their economic status by utilizing these Mobile Veterinary Vehicles in the right manner.
Karnataka State has been sanctioned with 290 Mobile veterinary vehicles against 289 lakh number of animal population, which will operate throughout the State by Public-Private Partnership. Rs 44.00 crores has been sanctioned to procure 275 new veterinary services fabricated vehicles @ Rs 16.00lakhs per vehicle. Remaining 15 already existing Pashu sanjivini vans will be utilized to match up 290 required vehicles.
The Minister urged the farmer’s community and dairy owners and each and everyone who involved in dairy activities to utilize the 290 Mobile veterinary vehicles for all the veterinary services by calling Toll free Animal Helpline Number 1962.
