Implementation of a comprehensive cattle insurance scheme is under active consideration of the state government to offset the cost suffered by dairy farmers due to the incidence of various bovine diseases, Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Mrs J Chinchurani said.

“Discussions in this regard are on with the Centre to explore if the state can combine its project with their insurance plan,” Mrs Chinchurani said while inaugurating the mobile veterinary clinic, ‘Aasraya,’ and the artificial insemination centre, ‘Pratheeksha,’ under the aegis of Trivandrum Regional Co-operative Milk Producers Union (TRCMPU) of Milma at Uchakkada near Balaramapuram here.

The Minister said the government is planning to compensate for the death of animals due to lumpy skin diseases. This is in addition to the total financial aid of upto Rs four crore provided for farmers during the time of bird flu, she said.

The mobile veterinary clinic that delivers treatment for cattle at the doorstep of farmers and the artificial insemination centre for creating good breeds of cow will bring in a huge change in the lives of farmers, she said.

Smt Chinchurani also launched ‘Aasraya’ mobile app and distributed Artificial Insemination (A.I) kit for technicians on the occasion.

Shri M Vincent, MLA, who presided over the function, said the two initiatives of TRCMPU will be a boon for dairy farmers in their efforts to increase milk production and keep the livestock in good health.

TRCMPU Administrative Committee Convener Shri N Bhasurangan, in his welcome address, said about 40 artificial insemination units will be set up in four districts under ‘Pratheeksha’ scheme.

He said one mobile veterinary clinic each in four districts—Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha– will be set up under ‘Aasraya’ initiative. In the first phase, this service of will be made available in Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha districts.

Farmers can register their cases on the app from 6 am to 4 pm. A service fee of INR 100 will be charged from those availing the facility.

Presenting the report on the projects, TRCMPU MD Shri DS Konda said the service of mobile veterinary clinic will be available at the doorstep of dairy farmers, who can get free medicines from doctors.

Kerala Livestock Development Board (KLDB) Managing Director Dr R Rajeev; TRCMPU Administrative Committee Members Shri KR Mohanan Pillai and Shri VS Padmakumar; Dairy Development Department Deputy Director Smt Sindhu R; and President, Dairy Cooperative Society, Uchakkada, Shri R Sudarsanakumar were also present.

TRCMPU has drawn up the ‘Pratheeksha’ project in collaboration with KLDB and as many as 19 Artificial Insemination technicians, who have undergone training, will start working in selected 19 Dairy Cooperative Societies. A fee of INR 150 will be charged for availing the service.