Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Thursday flagged-off 15 state-of-the-art veterinary ambulances. These were launched under the ‘Pashu Sanjeevani’ programme. This program provides treatment to livestock right at the doorstep of farmers.

The ambulances come equipped with an operation theatre, laboratory, scanning unit among other medical facilities. Dairy Minister Prabhu Chavan spoke to reporters after the launch. He said that at present, one ambulance will be given for each of 15 districts. “In the coming days, the remaining districts will be covered. The Animal Husbandry Department has a dedicated toll-free helpline (1962) through which farmers can contact the ambulance service,” he said. 

The Pashu Sanjeevani is a part of coveted Rashtriya Gokul Mission which aims to conserve indigenous cow breeds in India. Rashtriya Gokul Mission has the following objectives. Some of the activities covered under the mission are also detailed below. Also read Government of Rajasthan launched Kamdhenu scheme for Hitech Desi cows farm of 30 cows

Objectives of the Mission

The objectives of the Mission are:

• Development and conservation of indigenous breeds.
• Undertaking breed improvement programmes for indigenous cattle breeds so as to improve the genetic makeup and increase the stock.
• Enhancing milk production and productivity.
• Upgrading nondescript cattle using elite indigenous breeds like Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Deoni, Tharparkar, Red Sindhi.
• Distributing disease free high genetic merit bulls for natural service.

Initiatives under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission

The following initiatives have been considered under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission: Also read Gujarat government privatized Mobile Veterinary services in the state

• Establishment of integrated cattle development centres ‘Gokul Grams’ to develop indigenous breeds.
• Awards for encouraging farmers and breeder societies to rear Indigenous breeds of Bovines. Gopal Ratna award for farmers maintaining the best herd of Indigenous Breed and practising best management practices. Kamdhenu award for best managed Indigenous Herd by Institutions/Trusts/ NGOs/ Gaushalas or best-managed Breeders’ Societies.
• National Kamdhenu Breeding Centres are Centres of Excellence to develop and conserve Indigenous Breeds in a holistic and scientific manner.

E-Pshuhat an electronic animal genetic trading point

• An e-market portal “E-Pashu Haat”- Nakul Prajnan Bazaar for connecting breeders and farmers, an authentic market for quality- disease-free bovine germplasm in the form of i) semen; ii) embryos; iii) calves; iv) heifers and v) adult bovines with different agencies/stakeholders.
• Pashu Sanjivni Programme encompassing the provision of Animal Health cards (‘Nakul Swasthya Patra’) along with UID identification and uploading data on National Data Base.
• Advanced Reproductive Technology: Including Assisted Reproductive Technique- In-vitro Fertilization (IVF)/ Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer (MOET) and sex-sorted semen technique to improve the availability of disease-free female bovines.
• National Bovine Genomic Center for Indigenous Breeds (NBGC-IB) for selection of breeding bulls of high genetic merit at a young age using highly precise gene-based technology.

Rashtriya Gokul Mission aims to enhance the productivity of the indigenous breeds of India through professional farm management and superior nutrition.