Jammu: In a significant step for the benefit of livestock owners from pastoral communities of Jammu and Kashmir such as Bakerwals, Gujjars, Gaddis and Sippis, the Animal Husbandry Statistics (AHS) division of Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India in collaboration with Centre for Pastoralism, conducted a virtual meeting with District Nodal Officers (DNOs) of Animal Husbandry Department Jammu for 21st Livestock Census aimed at inclusion of pastoral communities in the ongoing Livestock Census, on Saturday here at Directorate of AHD, Talab Tillo, Jammu.
Ramesh Bhatti, Programme Director at Centre for Pastoralism while addressing the gathering said that the ongoing 21st Livestock Census will officially record pastoral communities spread across 22 states and union territories for the first time in last over 100 years. He further said that the government has defined pastoralists as a traditional community migrating with the livestock for at least one month in a year. Their dependence on common resources (village commons, grazing sites and forest fringes) is also taken into account. “This inclusion shall not only recognize pastoralism as a widespread practice but will also pave the way for introducing new welfare schemes for these communities by the Govt.’’, he added.
Dr Javaid Rahi, noted researcher and tribal social worker in his address stressed over accurate data collection as it can be used for giving pastoralists access to many resources and facilities that they cannot currently access such as healthcare and insurance, veterinary care and education along migratory routes.
Director Animal Husbandry Jammu, Dr. Waheeda Parveen in her address emphasized over developing close coordination between departmental field functionaries designated as enumerators and supervisors for census operations and the team of Centre for Pastoralism as it will help in addressing challenges in accurate counting of migratory animals and pastoralists by identifying their migratory routes.
Earlier, the team of Centre for Pastoralism along with Animal Husbandry department officials visited Gujjar Basti Belicharana, Gole Gujral and Bajalta areas of Jammu to interact with members of pastoral communities and expressed satisfaction over the progress of ongoing livestock census operations in relation to inclusion of pastoral community in it.
