By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: As many as 181 Mobile Unit Vehicles were on Friday flagged off by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at a programme organised at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar to provide health services to livestock animals under Mukhyamntri Bhramyaman Pranichikitsa Seva in the state.
Minister for Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Ranendra Pratap Swain , Secretary (5T) VK Pandian, Principal Secretary, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development and Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services were among those present.
In a video message, the Chief Minister said that the Mobile Veterinary Units are working to provide veterinary services at the doorstep are being provided to livestock keepers and farmers in the villages located at distant places from veterinary institutions.
The state government is making continuous efforts to make the lives of livestock farmers more comfortable, multiply their income and bring smiles to their faces.
The Animal Resources Development sector has been identified as the next level of growth for farmers, Women Self Help Groups and entrepreneurs.
Veterinary Healthcare and advisory services are very important for managing animal health and the livelihood of rural people.
Mobile veterinary units were previously functioning through hired vehicles. Now the state government has spent around Rs 30 crore in the first phase and has provided its own vehicles for use in 181 mobile veterinary units in all districts.
Mobile Veterinary Units shall provide veterinary healthcare and animal husbandry advisory services to the farmers through basic animal healthcare, complex surgery, vaccination and diagnostic services in livestock healthcare besides organising awareness camps for farmers.
The Chief Minister also said that the state government is committed to the welfare of animals. These mobile veterinary units will provide emergency veterinary health care to stray and abandoned animals through the Animal Helpline at the time of need.
Veterinary services will be provided using new technologies in these mobile veterinary units. The location of the vehicles will be tracked using the Global Positioning System.
