Himachal Speaker: Issues of shepherds taken care of in Budget

Chamba, February 19

Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania today said that the state government had made a provision of additional Rs 10 crore in the Budget for 2024-25 keeping in mind the interests of sheep rearers.

Pathania, in a press statement issued here, said that provisions had also been made in the Budget to address the major issues of sheep and goat rearers, including improvement in dipping and drenching facilities as well as revamping the existing system of wool cutting and rebuilding traditional grazing land and internal roads.

He said, “The sheep and goat rearers are elated at provisions in the Budget for the procurement of wool, vaccination drive for foot and mouth disease (FMD) along with the launch of the Sheep and Goat Rearing Incentive Scheme.”

Pathania said, “At present, the livelihood of many families in the state depends on sheep and goat farming. The government decision will also strengthen the economy of those involved in sheep and goat farming.” There are eight lakh sheep and 11 lakh goats in the state. In Chamba, shepherds have 2,45,560 sheep and 2,25,361 goats.