Samuhik Pashudhan Bima Yojana discontinued, rearers anxious

Livestock rearers across the state are at the receiving end following the discontinuation of Samuhik Pashudhan Bima Yojana, which ensures compensation in the event of accidental death of cattle due to disease and other reasons.

The scheme has been discontinued since April 1 and livestock rearers have been making rounds of the local office of the Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department to know when the scheme would be resumed.

“I suffered heavy losses after my two milch cows died due to diseases in July. Neither of the cows was insured, following the discontinuation of the government insurance scheme,” said Dharamvir Dangi, a cattle rearer.

Dangi said he had visited the Animal Husbandry Department office many times to enquire about the insurance cover for cattle but every time, he got the same answer that the scheme had not been resumed.

Manoj Dhaka, another cow rearer, said the insurance cover of his three cows was set to expire at the end of this month so he was worried as the insurance scheme was no longer available.

“A beneficiary had to pay just Rs 100 per livestock to get the insurance cover for one year under the government scheme while private insurance agencies charge more than Rs 3,000 for the same. We want the state government to resume the scheme at the earliest to provide relief to cattle rearers,” Dhaka added.

Surya Khatkar, Deputy Director (Animal Husbandry), confirmed that the scheme was not operational anymore while Dr Virendra Sehrawat, Semen Bank Officer, in the same department, said the scheme was likely to be restarted soon.