By-DR. RAJESH KUMAR SINGH, (LIVESTOCK & POULTRY CONSULTANT), JAMSHEDPUR, JHARKHAND,INDIA 9431309542, rajeshsinghvet@gmail.com
The importance of livestock in the sustainability of livelihoods and food security in India needs top emphasis. According to the latest livestock census, the overall contribution of the livestock sector to India’s gross domestic product is nearly 4.11%. In 2012, the country had a livestock population of 512.05 million and poultry population of 729.2 million – an increase of 12.39% over the previous census . The livestock census also revealed a significant increase in the number of dairy animals (cows and buffaloes) from 111.09 million in 2007 to 118.59 million in 2012. The goat, sheep, and pig population registered a
decline of 3.82%, 9.07% and 7.54%, respectively, compared to the previous census. However, in the case of sheep and pigs, the crossbred population has increased by 1.37% and 2.80%, respectively . The observed pattern of growth in crossbred dairy cows, improved breeds of buffalo, sheep, pigs and poultry indicates a shift towards economically more efficient species. In the case of bovines, the incremental growth is less in populations of males compared to females, mainly because animal draught power is being replaced with mechanical power. In the case of poultry, broiler production has been more vibrant than layer production in terms of annual growth. This shows that the livestock and poultry sectors of India are both expanding and adapting to emerging socioeconomic, environmental and technological forces, with direct implications for veterinary service delivery.
The effective delivery of veterinary services to farmers is constrained mainly by an inadequate number of graduates but also by the inability of these organisations to collaborate with each other. To improve the overall effectiveness of veterinary service delivery the role of paravets is paramount.
Para-veterinarians are skilled professionals who have undertaken training in artificial insemination, first aid, administration of medicines and vaccines, assisting veterinarians in surgical, medical and gynaecology treatments, etc. for a maximum of ten months.
Paravets provide ‘minor veterinary services’ under the existing law.This broad group of workers comprises any type of animal health worker without a university veterinary degree, who may have received training, varying from few weeks duration to few years. For many years, the para-veterinary professionals have played an important role in veterinary service delivery in developing countries. There is a strong need for efficient livestock delivery system which includes mainly animal health, breeding and other veterinary and extension services. Their work has been partially defined by VCI in the Minor veterinary services head.
“Minor veterinary services” is undefined- can be provided by trained personnel other than registered veterinarians.These paraprofessionals are named variously by different organizations in different regions of the country like the Paravets, Pashu Mitras, Gopal Mitras, Pranibandhu, Pranimitra, Pranisebee etc. In India, various schemes and programmes operating for delivery of livestock health services with the help of paravets. The governments now acknowledge this informal service delivery system.
Para-vets are community based animal health workers. In India, they have served to fill a large gap in extension services and have enabled more people to access vital information and services to protect their livestock. Pastoralism is the main source of livelihood in the rural area of India.
Nature of Work for Paravets————–
Veterinary pharmacists, livestock development assistants, veterinary supervisors, stockmen, stock assistant, etc. can render “minor veterinary services” under the supervision of a Registered Veterinary Practitioner (RVP). Clause 30b of Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984 (No. 52)- “minor veterinary services” means the delivery of primary veterinary aid like vaccination, castration, dressing of wounds and such other types of preliminary aid or the treatment of such ailments as the state government’s notification in the officiØVCI has proposed certain regulatory processes, standards and norms under the heading of supervision and guidance to minor veterinary practice.This does not allow paravets to do medicinal and surgical treatment of animals and seen as a form of self employment programme for educated unemployed rural youth of state, trained and registered with department of animal husbandry. al gazette specifies in this behalf .
Para-professionals, either as para-veterinarians or paravets , community based animal health workers (CBAHWs), have for some time now been considered one of the most promising means for increasing the provision of animal health services in the rural areas of India .Key features of para-professionals are their low overhead costs and their willingness to live as part of a rural community. With these characteristics para-professionals are able to provide services to small-scale producers in areas that could not otherwise support a private veterinarian. Although paraprofessionals cannot fully substitute for veterinarians, these personnel are able to provide a cheap, locally available basic health care service that can lead to quite dramatic improvements in herd health.
Despite the many advantages of para-professionals in service delivery, developing countries like India has generally resisted their involvement in the delivery of private veterinary services . Fear of drug resistance that might arise through malpractice is a commonly cited reason for prohibiting the use of para-professionals in service delivery.
A rise in para-veterinarians working under the supervision of a veterinarian should greatly increase the availability of animal health services to small-scale producers, whilst at the same time improving the quality of the State to monitor and control epidemic disease.
Services such as breeding, castration, deworming, vaccination, feed supplementation, fodder development and linkage with market, etc. can play a very important role in motivating and creating awareness among livestock keepers. One-to-one communication among livestock keepers and the service providing paravet/vet, is the most effective method of extension. These activities can be conveniently organised through trained paravets and field extension guides. One paravet can provide breeding and minor veterinary services to farmers in 5-8 villages. One Field Extension Guide preferably a women, engaged in facilitating the producer groups, can handle 15-20 groups spread over 2-3 villages. These paravets need to be trained in good extension techniques and provided with useful information regularly to share with farmers.
There is a severe shortage of veterinary graduates in the country. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the intake of students for veterinary science degree in all the States, particularly the Universities who can expand their capacity with marginal support.
Mandate of Work of Paravets———-
ü Door step insemination of cattle and buffalo in heat. ü Vaccination against HS, BQ, FMD, PPR, GP, Ranikhet, FP etc. ü Infertility check-up of livestock in supervision of concerned veterinary officer. ü Pregnancy diagnosis of animals. ü Information to dairy farmers on various livestock issues. ü Working with and for breeders association. ü Distribution of fodder seeds and other fodders available with the department. ü Extension and dissemination of advanced technologies to farm front. ü Milk recording and herd registration. ü First aid and other minor timely health services. ü Animal welfare work. üPrimary health care, castration and technology dissemination.
The NGOs train village men and women in basic veterinary skills, who then offer their services to fellow villagers for a nominal fee.There is a selection of individuals for training by communities within which they work, provide technical training in animal health for a short period of time, concentrate low cost strategies mainly on important livestock health and management issues of the farming community with community participation and principles of self help and payment for the services by the clients. A number of alternative models have emerged to deliver the animal health services in poor areas as- community based animal health services, membership organizations; self help groups (SHGs) and so on. Due to the absence of effective government delivering livestock services in resource poor areas, innovative systems are needed.
LEGALITY OF PARAVETS————
By virtue of the powers conferred by clause (b) of section 30 of the Indian Veterinary Council Act 1984 (Central Act 52 of 1984) All the states Government of India through their individual notification hereby permit persons holding diploma or certificate of Veterinary Supervisor, stockman or stock assistant to Render, under the Supervision and direction of a registered veterinary practitioner, the minor veterinary services specified below, in the State, namely :- 1. Preliminary veterinary aid, like, vaccination, castration and dressing of wounds 2. Artificial insemination 3. First aid to ailing animals.
NB-Section 30 (b) of the Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984 (Central Act 52 of 84) empower the State Government to permit a person holding a diploma or certificate of Veterinary Supervisor, Stockman or Stock Assistant issued by the Director of Animal Husbandry to render minor veterinary services under the supervision and direction of a registered Veterinary Practitioner
Positive Impacts of Community Para Veterinary Services ————
Performance of female para veterinarians are less compared to that of male counterparts.Increase in the number of artificial inseminations and calves born. Reduction in the occurrence of diseases. mpacts on livestock disease control and surveillance. Reduced mortality of young ones and adult animals. Increase in income through livestock and increase in quality of life. Serve as the missing link between the Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) and poor livestock keepers.
Factors affecting delivering livestock services by Paravets ————-
Experience, technical knowledge, communication in organization and use of extension methods were found to have the ability to channelize other variables which affect their role performance. Age had highly significant but negative relationship with overall beneficiary rated role performance. Contacts, availability and timeliness were positively and significantly associated with the job performance. Positive relationship between the attitude of field supervisors towards dairy farming and their effective role performance. The family background and role performance had negative and significant relationship with one another. Education negatively and significantly related to role performance. Community based animal health workers are competent and comparable with that of field paravets of government veterinary services
Need to streamline of livestock service delivery system on certain minimum criteria’s for better cohesive units. There is a strong need to have a body to evaluate the working performance of para-veterinary professionals.Technical knowledge of para-veterinary professionals was found to be at lower level, thus the efforts are needed to improve same. Expansion of public veterinary department along with its better liaison with other service providers mainly the paraprofessionals is the need of hour. Need for proper ethical monitoring of paravets services regarding curative services provided by them. other organizations also which may play crucial role in providing the diploma, trainings and refresher courses regularly to educated youth from rural area for effective and dynamic livestock delivery system by covering larger area and livestock population.
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There is also a need for middle level paravets who can take up breeding, minor veterinary services, input supply and extension in AH. For facilitating the development of this cadre, it is necessary to establish a two-year practical oriented Diploma course for the youth who have passed high school, at State Agricultural and Veterinary Universities. At the end of the study, these youth should be able to provide various animal husbandry related services as self-employed professionals under the patronage of the Milk Cooperative or any other local organisation. The Karnataka Veterinary University and a few other Universities have already initiated this course and this can be taken up by other Universities as well in the country.
