By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR:Attending the state-level program organized at the State Convention Center today on the occasion of World Veterinary Day, the Honorable Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi has taken many important steps for the overall development of the veterinary, veterinary health and fisheries sectors.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister inaugurated the new building of 76 veterinary hospitals and 4 animal care centers built at a cost of about Rs. 100 crore in the state to strengthen veterinary services. Along with this, MoUs have also been signed with 6 PSUs for the construction of 219 new veterinary hospitals and diagnostic labs at an investment of Rs. 177 crore. Under this MoU, a state-level molecular laboratory will be set up at Phulankhara in Cuttack at a cost of about Rs. 10 crore. Similarly, the Chief Minister announced at the event that the state-level food laboratory will be strengthened at a cost of Rs. 6 crore for testing the quality of animal feed.
On this occasion, on the occasion of 50 years of OPLFED, the Chief Minister inaugurated the marketing center for brown eggs and indigenous ‘Aseel’ chicken, expressing hope that it will give fair price to the poultry farmers. For the welfare of fishermen, the fish landing center at Kasiya in Bhadrak and the improvement work of Dhamra fish port were inaugurated today at a cost of Rs. 50 crore.
The Chief Minister, while delivering his speech at the event, said that veterinarians treat animals that cannot speak. They are truly great. Our Veterinary Doctors are like gods to living creatures. Traditional farming alone is not enough to increase the income of farmers in Odisha. We need to promote allied farming like fish farming, cow husbandry, poultry farming, goat and sheep farming. He mentioned that our goal is not just to double the income of farmers, but to multiply it.
The Chief Minister’s Kamdhenu Yojana has been launched for the first time in the state. Under this scheme, which is being implemented at a cost of Rs 1,423 crore, more than 15 lakh cowherds will benefit in the next five years. Up to 70 percent assistance is being provided for raising high-milk producing cows. Similarly, under the Chief Minister’s Animal Welfare Scheme, a provision of Rs 33 crore has been made for new cowsheds, food, maintenance and health care. He said that under the Pranishampad Samrudhi Yojana, 3.73 lakh families will benefit at a cost of Rs 1,031 crore for increasing poultry farming and egg production.
Highlighting this year’s theme on Veterinary Medicine for Good Food and Health, the Chief Minister explained the important role of veterinary medicine in the state’s economy. He said that the One Health approach needs to be further strengthened by integrating animal health, food security and public health. According to Odisha Vision 2036 and 2047, the state will be self-reliant in milk, egg and meat production. The target is to take Odisha to the fifth position in the country in egg production by 2047.
To make animal health services accessible to the people, our government has decided to deploy 2000 trained ‘A-HELP’ (Agricultural Health Workers). These workers will help farmers in vaccination in rural areas. On this occasion, the Chief Minister felicitated the successful veterinarians, animal husbandry workers and farmers of the state, interacted with them and urged them to collectively contribute towards making Odisha a developed state.
Attending the event as the guest of honour, Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Development Gokulanand Malik said, “Pestrians play a key role in ensuring good food and health. They serve as the first line of defense in society by preventing diseases spread by living beings.”
Among others, Divisional Commissioner and Administrative Secretary Prem Chand Chaudhary and Director of Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine Vijay Amrit Kulange were prominently present at the event.
