ROLE OF VETERINARIAN IN EMPOWERMENT OF RURAL INDIA
Dr. Shivani Mamane
Assistant Professor,
Dept of Veterinary Parasitology,
Veterinary College Bidar, KVAFSU
Abstarct:
Most of the farmers in rural India rely on the agricultural and livestock for their livelihood. Veterinarian plays an important role by disbursing his/her duties in treating, vaccinating, controlling disease outbreaks and also creating awareness among the farmers in rural India. Veterinarian is silent and indirect contributors to the national GDP through the animal husbandry. It is need of an hour for us to concentrate on the current situation of declining animal population among the villages mainly oxes, bullocks and act immediately in order to continue empowering rural India in many possible ways.
Keywords: Veterinarian, Rural India, Animal Husbandry, Vaccination, Treatment, Awareness
INDIA has large number of livestock which is mainly concentrated to rural areas. India ranks one among top position among buffalo population in world and has high number of small ruminants population. These animal populations are restricted to rural India as the urban areas are taken over by either pet or exotic animals population either out of passion or the status in the society. Most of Indian farmers still depend on the agriculture and the animal husbandry for their daily bread and butter by means of dairy or draught purpose.
Whether we agree it or not the animal husbandry and the agriculture goes hand in hand and are inseparable primary activities in the rural areas of India. The Veterinarians are the silent contributors of the society and also they contribute a lot indirectly to the national GDP in terms as the animal husbandry is related. The Vets at rural areas of India play a vital role in many ways- Firstly by proper diagnosis and treating the affected animals, conducting seasonal prophylactic vaccination programmes such as FMD, HS, Brucellosis among large ruminants whereas ET, blue tongue, etc in small ruminants, also contribute in controlling various disease outbreaks. They are also involved in extension activities such as introduction of a number of government schemes to the farmers at rural India where they can be benefited either by getting loans to purchase dairy animals or establishment of dairy, insurance of animals, various subsidies on a number of AH related activities for example- cow mats, milking machines, chaff cutter etc.
There may be still many villages in India where Veterinary service is unable to made available by Vets due to the remote geographical location and in these cases quacks take upper hand which may be theat to our profession. A veterinarian can empower and contribute a lot to India by just by act of his honest service through his/her duties.
The declining animal population in rural India can be an alarming call and Vet must act accordingly in order to create awareness and guide/ pave a proper way to farmers and help them to run a successful livestock production by providing hourly/ needly information on managemental practices, clean milk production, control of parasitic and infectious disease outbreaks.
There was once upon a time where white revolution happened to increase milk production likewise now it is an apt time for us Vets to act and bring up Livestock revolution and increase the animals number to multiple folds. In turn boost up our Rural economy and thus eventually empowering our rural India.
