Parshottam Rupala inaugurates 29 Mobile Veterinary Units and Centralised call centre in Thiruvananthapuram

Tags: Government Schemes State News

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Purushottam Rupala inaugurated 29 Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) and Centralised Call Center in Thiruvananthapuram on 5 January.

An overview of the news

• It is a major step for the benefit of the livestock farmers in Kerala. Kerala is deploying 50 MVUs in different districts.

• It will help transform the dairy sector from subsistence-based agricultural livelihood to a commercially viable enterprise, resulting in gainful employment for the youth of Kerala.

• These MVUs will be operated through a centralised call centre with a common helpline number - 1962.

• It will receive calls from herders/cattle owners and the vet will prioritise all the cases based on emergency nature and forward them to the nearest MVU for attending at the doorstep of the farmer.

• The MVUs will act as one-stop centres for resolution of veterinary issues and dissemination of information in remote areas of the country.

• The MVUs will provide diagnosis treatment, vaccination, artificial insemination, minor surgical intervention, audio-visual support to animal owners in far flung areas.

• In the current financial year, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Govt of India has sanctioned 4332 MVUs across the country.

Background

• MVUs are components under the Livestock Health and Disease Control (LH&DC) scheme.

• Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided to States/UTs for delivery of veterinary health services at the doorstep of farmers by providing 1 MVU per 1 lakh livestock population.

• The scheme provides 100% financial assistance towards non-recurring expenditure (@Rs.16.00 lakh/1MVU) on purchase and adaptation of Mobile Veterinary Units (MVU).

• Central share (100% for UTs, 90% for NE & Hilly States and 60% for all other States) towards recurring expenditure ( @ Rs.18.72 lakh/1 MVU)  on running of these MVUs.