Shepherds benefiting from govt schemes: Talasani

Minister says revival of caste based professions strengthens rural economy

Nalgonda: After a brief break caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the much awaited distribution of subsidised sheep to the shepherds community has resumed at Nalgonda. Animal Husbandry Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav formally kickstarted the programme at Mosambi market on the outskirts of Nalgonda town, in the presence of Telangana State Legislative Council chairman Gutha Sukhender Reddy, Energy Minister G Jagadish Reddy and other elected representatives and officials on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, Srinivas Yadav said that the schemes taken up by the State government for revival of caste-based professions have led to strengthening of rural economy. He stated that distribution of subsidised sheeps and releasing of fishlings into the water bodies were some of the major initiatives taken up by Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao to revive traditional occupations which were yielding positive results in the State. He said the shepherds were getting benefits from multiple welfare schemes and the initiatives of the State government have resulted in an increased income of families of all sections in the State.

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“The pleas of Yadava community to the then Chief Ministers in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh to resolve their issues, fell on deaf ears. But after formation of Telangana State, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao launched numerous schemes including distribution of subsidised sheep and supply of fodder grass seeds. Those who are aware of people’s issues and take measures to resolve their problems are the true leaders and Chief Minister Chandrashekhar Rao is one such people’s leader,” he stated.

The Minister assured that subsidised sheep would be distributed to the remaining 28,000 applicants, who submitted the Demand Drafts towards their 25 per cent share towards each sheep unit to the department. He stated that the Chief Minister promised has to allocate another Rs 6,000 crore in the next State Budget for continuing the subsidised sheep distribution scheme, to reach out to last member of the shepherds community.

Srinivas Yadav stated that the State government was giving equal importance to the healthcare needs of the livestock on par with public healthcare. He reminded that 100 mobile veterinary hospitals were launched by the State government so far. The sheep of the scheme would also be covered by an insurance scheme and the beneficiaries would get new sheep in case of death of their sheep due to accidents and climate conditions, he reminded.

Ridiculing the allegations of the opposition parties against the State government’s welfare schemes, the Minister said that the people should not believe the opposition parties which were more interested in politics than welfare. He urged them to stand in support of the State government, which was committed to improve their living condition. “The TRS rule is ‘Sri Rama Raksha’ to people of this State. People should extend their support to TRS bearing this fact in mind in every occassion,” he added.

Energy Minister G Jagadish Reddy said that the sheep distribution programme was resumed in Nalgonda ahead of State-wide distribution considering a high number of shepherds in the district. He reminded that sheep distribution under the scheme was stalled due to Covid-19 pandemic. The distribution of sheep to the shepherds at a subsidised price, would help the Telangana State to export meat to other States after catering to the local needs,” he said.

About 250 units of sheep worth Rs 19.7 lakh were distributed to the beneficiaries at the programme. Rajya Sabha member Badugula Lingaiah Yadav, Zilla Parishad chairman Banda Narender Reddy, MLAs Kancherla Bhupal Reddy, Gadari Kishore, Ravindra Kumar Reddy, N Bhasker Rao, Chirumarthi Linagaiah, Principal Secretary for Animal Husbandry Anita Rajender and district collector Prashant Jeevan Patil were also attended the programme.

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