Several beneficiaries of the state’s free goat and sheep scheme in Madhanur union in Vellore are in distress due to the death of the sheep within a month of their being distributed.
The scheme was launched to help the poor in the rural pockets and provide them with a steady income. However, the death of several sheep within 20 days of distribution has the beneficiaries worried.
“We were provided with three lambs and an adult male sheep. I took great care to raise the animals to create a source of income for my three daughters’ education. But the lambs died within 20 days,” said S. Reeta of Agaram junction.
Left with only one animal, Reeta added that many of beneficiaries in her village and neighbouring villages face the same situation.
Shanthi of Maratipalayam has also lost three of the four animals within three weeks of getting them. Though they were assured replacements, they are still worried that the lambs may not withstand the extremely hot climate here.
On an average, one or two sheep given to each beneficiary in the two villages in Agaram panchayat have died of infection and disease, said an AIADMK ward councillor of the village on conditions of anonymity.
Admitting that more than 40 sheep, distributed under the government scheme, died within a short period, joint director of animal husbandry of Vellore region Nagendra Babu said, “The animals are covered under the insurance scheme.
We will give new sheep to the beneficiaries who have lost their animals due to disease.” He said they were helping the beneficiaries get healthy animals.
District collector Ajay Yadav said they were trying to implement the scheme effectively.
