State govt to promote goat rearing in Talwandi Sabo

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 16

Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Dairy Development and Labour Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on Saturday said the Punjab Government had selected Talwandi Sabo tehsil of Bathinda district as a pilot project of the Animal Husbandry Department to promote goat rearing to improve the socio-economic conditions of small and marginal farmers.

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating an awareness camp of the Livestock and Labour Department at Talwandi Sabo here on Saturday, Balbir Sidhu said work on this project had been started in five districts — Bathinda, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Pathankot, Sangrur and Mansa — from today by releasing Rs 34.05 lakh during the current financial year. For the implementation of this project, a sum of Rs 313.19 lakh had been approved under the Five-Year Plan.

He said under the project, the Beetle breed goat under the Breeding Improvement Programme would be implemented in these districts. A Beetle breed goat would be provided to cattle keepers at low rates, following a unit of 30 goats from the Animal Husbandry Department.

He said for these districts, Rs 60 lakh would be given for vaccination, unloading of goats and tagging of ears would be done free of cost by the department. The weight of newborn goats would be assessed regularly. The educated youth of respective villages would be given daily remuneration. He said all weight records would be sent to the Goat Husbandry Research Center so that the newborn goats could be promoted under the Breed Improvement Programme.

Sidhu said special arrangements had been made for the marketing of goat meat and milk by the Animal Husbandry Department. Under the programme, self-employment would be provided to the youth of the state and their economic and social conditions would be improved.

He said the state government had released Rs 50 lakh for the livelihood of the below poverty line families. He said the number of goats in Punjab was approximately 3.26 lakh.

The minister said, “At present, financial assistance is being provided by the Punjab Government for setting up units of 40 + 2 goats.”

Bicycles given to girls

Barnala: Balbir Singh Sidhu said Capt Amarinder Singh-led Punjab Government was committed to bringing the state back on track with its financial and social policies.

He was here to distribute free bicycles to girl students studying in the government school at Thikriwal village.

Sidhu said all the girl students of classes XI and XII would be gifted bicycles under the Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme of the Punjab Government. With the help of these bicycles, girls whose residences are based far from their schools could easily reach there. It would reduce their dropout rate.

The minister also announced a grant of Rs 2 lakh for the construction of toilet blocks in the government school.

He said special bureaus had been formed in all districts to make the youth aware of the opportunities available in the state through self-employment trainings and regular counselling about vacancies.