85 lakh milk-producing cows and buffaloes given ‘Aadhaar-like'' number

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14

As many as 85 lakh milk-producing animals have been identified under the Aadhaar-like unique identification (UID) number for cows and buffaloes and their data uploaded on INAPH.

According to a statement released by the Agriculture Ministry, as many as 85 lakh milk-producing animals have been identified and their data uploaded on the Information Network on Animal Health and Productivity (INAPH) data base under the plan ‘Pashu Sanjivni’.

A component under National Mission on Bovine Productivity scheme initiated in November 2016, under ‘Pashu Sanjivni’ 88 million milk-producing animals of 300 million cattle and buffaloes are being identified using polyurethane tags with 12 digit unique identification (UID) number.

As per officials, ‘Pashu Sanjivni’ is crucial for control and spread of animal diseases, scientific management of animals, enhanced production and productivity, improvement in quality of livestock and livestock products, increase in trade of livestock and livestock products by meeting out sanitary and phytosanitary issues.

A brainchild of the Agriculture Ministry for “tamper-proof identification of cattle using polyurethene tags with a UID sequence”, every single cow and buffalo will get the tag containing the 12-digit unique identification number inside the ear.

It is mandatory for all cow/buffaloes and its progeny throughout India for all cattle that is owned.

The move has earned widespread criticism, including from opposition parties, with many left wondering whether the plan costing around Rs 148 crore to the exchequer is really required for a country where one third of the population is still below the poverty line and where even many citizens are yet to get their Aadhar cards.