Rs 500 cr for cattle growth, TS bears Rs 100-cr subsidy: Talasani

Hyderabad, Jan.19 : Besides planning to make use of Rs 500 crore being funded by National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), the State Government is preparing to press in very soon adequate number of mobile veterinary hospitals to offer timely health services to cattle in each Assembly constituency.

For this, the State government will bear Rs 100 crore towards subsidy and offered counter guarantee to the NCDC and focusing on to offer loans to the members of recognized societies of sheep and goats and that of fishermen at villages. According to the information, the State government offers loans @ 3% interest while the Centre gives loans @ 10% interest and to bridge the gap of 7% the State government offered to bear Rs 100 crore for subsidy, he added.

Talking to mediapersons here on Thursday, Animal Husbandry Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav said the State government was committed for the welfare of shepherds and those who are into rearing goats. He stressed the need for protecting cattle and encourage farmers, who are into taming sheep and goats also fishermen community. He said as part of protecting the farm and domestic animals, one veterinary hospital will be set up in each Assembly constituency soon.

Earlier, the minister chaired a sub-committee and held a high-level review meeting on the cattle protection and steps to increase their production and also on fisheries development. Ministers Etela Rajender, Guntakandla Jagadish Reddy, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Jagadish Reddy and Tummala Nageshwar Rao were present. They took stock of the cattle, livestock and steps to help shepherds and fishermen community to empower through their own professions. Loans at low interest rate will be given to the members of these societies, Talasani added.

The meeting assumes significance in the wake of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao appointing Srinivas Yadav to head a sub-committee and to submit a report to the government on the steps for helping growers of sheep and goats and fishermen community, including Besta and Mudiraj people. The Chief Minister gave instructions to the sub-committee to ensure that goats and sheep growers’ associations at village and mandal levels with membership get loans with better subsidy to empower.