Shepherd communities fear they may be left out of livestock census

The Central Government has started the 21st livestock census in the country, including in Himachal. However, many migratory shepherd communities of the state fear that they might be left out of the census. Sources say that this time, the Central Government is conducting the livestock census through a mobile phone application. In Himachal Pradesh, only two categories of migratory shepherds — Gaddis and Gujjars -- are being included in the census. However, other migratory shepherd communities such as Kanets of Kangra and Kullu districts and Negis of the upper Himachal region fear they will be left out.

The State Adviser of the Himachal Ghumantu Pashupalak Mahasabha, biggest organisation of migratory shepherds in the state, says that migratory livestock rearing is a crucial source of livelihood, income and food security for the people of Himachal Pradesh. "Himachal Pradesh is reliant on this pastoral economy for significant proportions of milk, meat, wool and dung. As per the estimates of the Himachal Ghumantu Pashupalak Mahasabha, there are more than 1 lakh families involved in pastoralism in the state rearing 20 lakh sheep and goats and 50,000 cattle and buffaloes," he adds.

Despite the existence of such a thriving and vital pastoral economy in Himachal Pradesh, migratory livestock initially counted during the British regime by the Imperial Forest Department was used as the base for giving rights or facilities to migratory shepherds. Grazing permits were allotted to shepherd by the Forest Department on the basis of a census conducted by the British. Post-1970, no new permits were issued. More than 100 years later, the census of livestock conducted by the British stands completely outdated. “Many of us who own migratory livestock do not possess permits. Unlike stall-fed livestock in villages which are easily counted during the five-yearly Livestock Census, migratory livestock are regularly under-counted due to their migration to summer and winter pastures,” he said.

He said that the non-inclusion of the category of pastoral livestock and its subsequent under-counting has resulted in multiple challenges such as inadequate availability and accessibility of veterinary health care services such as dispensaries, dipping, vaccination and deworming facilities and a complete absence of migratory livestock-specific government schemes.

The pastoralists of Himachal Pradesh are also confronted with challenges such as the lack of access to pasture along their migratory route due to development activities and tree plantation undertaken on their grazing land and the theft of their livestock.

The upcoming 21st Livestock Census with a targeted focus on migratory livestock populations is a crucial milestone towards ensuring season and location-specific provision of veterinary care, shearing facilities and other government schemes to migratory livestock and shepherds. So it was high time that the state government ensured that all migratory livestock was counted under the census, he said.

Dr Sunil Chauhan, who is involved in the 21st livestock census being conducted in the state, said that only the livestock of Gaddi and Gujjar communities was being counted in the mobile phone application based census. The Central Government had developed the application. “We will give suggestions on the part of the state Animal Husbandry Department that other migratory community livestock should also be included in the application-based census. I hope that the entire livestock of the state will be counted in the census,” he added.