Hyderabad: The low survival rate of the sheep distributed to Yadavs and Kurumas has become a cause for concern for the government of Telangana.
The sheep purchased from other states are falling prey to diseases. Additionally, some shepherds have been selling the sheep given to by them.
As per the reports sent by officials of the department of animal husbandry of various districts of the state government, over 50,000 sheep have died of disease and 1.25 lakh sheep have been sold by shepherds to butchers and meat dealers. The sale of sheep peaked during the recent Bakri Id festival due to high demand.
Under the sheep distribution scheme, which is aimed at encouraging enrolment in caste-based professions, the government intends to distribute over one crore sheep in two years, of which 10 lakh have already been distributed.
Alarmed by the reports of sheep deaths, the government has directed officials to take up a ground-level survey to determine how many of the 10 lakh sheep have survived, and how much money the government and the beneficiaries have lost due to the sheep deaths and the misuse of the scheme’s benefits.
Each shepherd family receives one unit, which consists of 20 sheep and a ram, valued at Rs 1.25 lakh. Of this, the government pays Rs 96,000, while the beneficiary pays the remaining Rs 29,000. Though the scheme is supposed to help shepherds earn profits, several families have been left fuming as a result of their share of the payment going down the drain with the death of their sheep.
Sheep deaths have been reported in districts Vikarabad, Sircilla, Medak, Mahabubnagar, Adilabad, Nalgonda, and Khammam.
Minister of animal husbandry Talasani Srinivas Yadav says, “The outbreak of diseases is a common phenomenon which can be controlled by deploying veterinary doctors. If deaths have occurred on account of diseases, the government will ensure that compensation is paid to the families by insurance firms as the department has paid the premium.
“The government will recover the money from the beneficiaries if it finds that they have sold the sheep to meat dealers. The scheme is meant to encourage the rearing of sheep.”
He says that some breeds of sheep which have been purchased from states such as Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal have had some difficulty in adjusting to local climatic conditions, and this could be one of the reasons for their death.
“We have ordered an inquiry into the issue. We are deploying mobile vet clinics to assist beneficiaries, and ambulances are being sent to each Assembly constituency. Over 100 ambulances are being purchased,” Mr Yadav says.
