Former MLA Jonendra Basumatary, who has been motivating villagers in the area to take up dairy farming and livestock rearing, has donated 10 bighas of land to the department for the veterinary sub-centre.

The BTC had earmarked Rs 4.2 crore for the animal husbandry and veterinary department for 2006-07. The department was allotted Rs 2.15 crore in the previous fiscal.

The veterinary department and Centre for Youth and Rural Development, an NGO based in Chirang, conducted a free vaccination camp in rem-ote areas of Bengtol recently. Over 6,372 cows, bullocks, buffaloes and goats were vaccinated, 223 were treated for various diseases and 31 were castrated at Thaisouguri, Aiechara Digaldong, Aie Nodi Dubri and Bwigribari.

Pratap Medhi, who heads the department, said the camp was conducted to encourage villagers to adopt a scientific approach to veterinary health-care. “The past few years have seen more and more people rearing livestock and animals for a livelihood. But most people are unaware of diseases that afflict livestock. There is an urgent need to make people aware of veterinary healthcare. This will increase produ-ction in dairy, poultry and pig farms,” Medhi said.

Source: The Telegraph