5-Jan-2023: Union FAHD Minister Shri Parshottam Rupala inaugurates 29 Mobile Veterinary Units and Centralised call center in Thiruvananthapuram
Shri Parshottam Rupala , Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying inaugurated 29 Mobile Veterinary Units and centralised call center in Thiruvananthapuram today in a significant step for the benefit of the livestock farmers in Kerala.
These MVUs will be operated through a centralised call centre with a uniform Helpline No. 1962. It will receive calls from livestock rearers / animal owners and Veterinarian will prioritize all cases on the basis of emergency nature and will transmit them to the nearest MVU for attending at farmer’s doorstep.
Kerala is deploying 50 MVUs in different districts. Now, the veterinary hospital will be just a call away by dialling 1962. These vehicles are equipped with state of art diagnostic tools, animal treatment and breeding accessories, audio visual aids and necessary medications.
The Minister highlighted that this intervention will boost the confidence of dairy breeders to rear high productive dairy animals as most of the breeders are reluctant to take their livestock to Veterinary Hospital for treatment and usually end calling quacks for doorstep delivery of services. Each MVU shall be manned by a qualified Veterinarian and a Paravet for providing specialized services to livestock farmers, he added.
Elaborating on the scheme the Minister underlined that the scheme is promising and will transform the dairy sector from a subsistence-based farm livelihood to a commercially viable enterprise by giving gainful employment to the youth of the Kerala.
MVUs will provide diagnosis treatment, vaccination, artificial insemination, minor surgical interventions, audio-visual aids and extension services to farmers / animal owners at their doorstep in far flung area.
MVUs will act as one-stop Centre for solutions to veterinary issues and dissemination of information to the remotest areas of the country.
In the current financial year, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), MoFAHD, Govt of India has sanctioned 4332 MVUs across the country.
The event was attended by dignitaries including Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Shri V Muraleedharan, Kerala Minister of Animal Husbandry Smt. J Chinchu Rani, Shri Binoy Viswam MP, District Panchayat President Shri Suresh Kumar D, Director of Kerala Animal Husbandry Department Dr A Kawshigan IAS and other officials.
Background:
Establishment & Strengthening of Veterinary Hospitals & Dispensaries - Mobile Veterinary Units (ESVHD-MVU)” a component under Livestock Health and Disease Control (LH&DC) Scheme provides financial assistance to States/UTs for delivery of veterinary healthcare services at farmer’s doorsteps by providing 1 MVU/ 1 lakh Livestock Population
The scheme provides financial assistance of 100% towards non-recurring expenditure ( @ Rs.16.00 lakh/1 MVU) on procurement & customization of Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) and central share ( 100% for UTs, 90% for NE & Hilly States and 60% for all other States) towards recurring expenditure ( @ Rs.18.72 lakh/1 MVU) on running of these MVUs in field for delivery of veterinary services at farmer’s doorstep.
These MVUs will have one Veterinarian, one Para-veterinarian and one Driver-cum- Attendant to provide veterinary services.
Salary of Veterinarian has been revised to 56100/ pm . During 2021-22, Central Government has released Rs.681.57 Crore to 33 States/UTs towards procurement of 4332 MVUs.
8-Feb-2022: Ambulance Network for Veterinary units
Government provides financial assistance to all States / Union Territories (UTs) under Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme. From 2021-22, there is a focus on veterinary healthcare services at the farmer’s doorstep through Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs). The MVUs may run on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode with Government providing for infrastructure and manpower outsourced by Implementing Agency including cooperatives and Milk Unions. Call Centre, established by States / UTs, will act as a pivot whilst rendering mobile veterinary services. While 100% Central funds will be towards procurement and customization of mobile veterinary units, recurring operational expenditure would be shared in the ratio of 90:10 for North Eastern & Himalayan States and 60% for other States, while it is 100% for UTs.