The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has today approved the Revision of the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP).
The scheme has three components, namely the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP), LH&DC and Pashu Aushadhi. LH&DC has three sub-components, i.e. Critical Animal Disease Control Programme (CADCP), Establishment and Strengthening of existing Veterinary Hospitals and Dispensaries – Mobile Veterinary Unit (ESVHD-MVU) and Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD). The Pashu Aushadhi is a new component added to the LHDCP scheme. The total outlay of the scheme is Rs.3,880 crore for two years, i.e. 2024-25 and 2025-26, which includes the provision of Rs. 75 crore to provide good quality and affordable generic veterinary medicine and incentive for the sale of medicines under the Pashu Aushadhi component.
The productivity of the livestock is impacted adversely due to diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Brucellosis, Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF), Lumpy Skin Disease, etc. Implementation of the LHDCP will facilitate a reduction in these losses by preventing diseases through immunization. The Scheme also supports door-step delivery of livestock health care through the subcomponents of Mobile Veterinary Units (ESVHD-MVU) and improving the availability of generic veterinary medicine- Pashu Aushadhi through a network of PM-Kisan Samriddhi Kendra and Cooperative Societies.
Thus, the scheme will help in the prevention and control of livestock diseases through vaccination, surveillance and the upgrading of healthcare facilities. Also, the scheme will improve productivity, generate employment, encourage entrepreneurship in the rural area and prevent economic losses of farmers due to disease burden.
