On the lines of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahostav’, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked between Department of Animal husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) of Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAHD), and Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) on September 1, 2021 for rural economic growth.
Signatories:
It was signed by Atul Chaturvedi, Secretary, DAHD; and Nagendra Nath Sinha, Secretary, Department of Rural Development (DoRD), MoRD in the presence of Union Ministers Parshottam Rupala, MoFAHD and Giriraj Singh, MoRD at Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi.
What is in the MoU?
Under the MoU, the Self Help Group (SHG) platform or services of SHG members will be utilized as a livestock resource person and primary service provider for the development of the Indian rural economy. This will be done through the joint efforts of DAHD and National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), MoRD.
i.A new accredited model namely ‘A-HELP (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production)’ is introduced which will be implemented pan-India.
ii.This accreditation will be provided to the individuals already trained under DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-NRLM) for livestock (Pashusakhis) by providing further training as A-HELP workers.
Efforts taken by Government to help Farmers through livestock sector:
i.DAHD is providing employment and entrepreneurship opportunities through its different flagship programs like AHIDF (Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund), DIDF (Dairy Infrastructure Development Fund), NADCP (National Animal Disease Control Program) for FMD (Foot and Mouth Disease) and Brucellosis etc.
ii.Central Government approved the implementation of a Special Livestock Sector Package for focused development of AHD in next 5 years starting from 2021-22.
iii.DoRD is also working for rural upliftment through various programmes involving more women.
iv.DAY-NRLM has been supporting the farm livelihood sector through pashusakhis who guide the Mahila Kisans through Pashu Pathshalas and by providing services at the doorstep of farmers.
Other Participants:
MoS Dr. Loganathan Murugan, MoFAHD;, MoS Faggan Singh Kulaste, MoRD; and MoS Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, MoRD
Recent Related News:
In order to promote and facilitate investments in the Indian Dairy sector, DAHD on July 19, 2021 has set up a Dairy Investment Accelerator under its Investment Facilitation Cell. The Investment Accelerator is a cross functional team to act as intermediary with investors.
About Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying:
Union Minister– Parshottam Khodabhai Rupala (Constituency- Gujarat)
Ministers of State (MoS)– Sanjeev Kumar Balyan (Constituency- Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh), Dr. Loganathan Murugan (Constituency- Tamil Nadu)
