Not to be published/broadcast  Before 28th Sept., 2009   

               With the launching of two projects worth Rs. 9.41 crore by the State Government recently under Integrated Wool Development Programme for the welfare of the Sheep breeders of Himachal Pradesh, the sheep breeders are poised to receive big boost in their socio-economic condition. The benefits of various welfare schemes to improve the genetic breeds of sheep besides raising the wool production are some of the important components of both projects. . Both the projects are being implemented by the State Wool Federation.

During the last about two years, the State Government has initiated a number of steps to ensure the welfare of Sheep Breeders in Himachal Pradesh. Sheep rearing is one of the main occupations of the Gaddi community in the hilly State as the total population of sheep is estimated to be around 9 lakh.

The State Government had submitted two ambitious projects for the wool improvement to Textile Ministry, Govt. of India at Jodhpur. One of the projects amounting to Rs. 7.01 crore envisages the Genetic Improvement of Gaddi Sheep in Mandi, Chamba, Kullu and Kangra districts. Other project of Rs. 2.40 crore is also for Genetic Improvement of Rampur Busheri sheep in the districts Shimla and Kinnaur. The Central Government has released the 1st instalment of Rs. 2.24 crore for the 1st year of the three-year-long integrated Wool Improvement Development Programme. Under the project, registration of four lakh sheep of Mandi, Chamba, Kullu and Kangra districts is being done. The purpose of registration is to extend the benefits to the genuine sheep breeders.

An amount of Rs. 16 lakh has been earmarked for the marketing assistance to the sheep breeders under which the collection, packaging, storage, transportation and to fetch remunerative price for the wool procurement in the market is being handled by the Wool Federation of the State Government.

The medical care of all the 4 lakh sheep is one of the priority areas under these projects. Medicines are being provided free of cost to the registered sheep @ Rs. 18 per sheep. As such, a grant of Rs. 72 lakh will be disbursed among the sheep breeders for the medical facilities. The Veterinary Institutions have been asked to provide medicines to the sheeps to prevent them from the Internal and External diseases. An amount of Rs. 1.20 crore has been earmarked for this purpose.

The Shepherd Insurance Scheme has been launched for the Insurance of sheep breeders. The age criterion under the Insurance scheme has been fixed between 18-19 years for the sheep breeder. The Insurance cover to the tune of Rs. 1.50 lakh is being provided in case of accidental death of the sheep breeder while Rs. 60,000 will be given for natural death. For total disability the amount of Insurance will also be 1.50 lakh.  Benefit of Scholarship @ Rs. 100/- month each to two children of sheep breeders

 studying in class 9th to 12th is also being to provided. So far 4,373 sheep breeders have been brought under the Insurance Scheme being implemented by LIC of India.

Revolving fund of Rs. 30 lakh has been created for the Wool Federation. Earlier, the Woolfed was procuring wool from the breeders with its meagre resources and as there was a gap between wool procurement and wool selling, sheep breeders were not being benefited fully. But with the creation of Revolving fund, Wool Federation is in a position to procure more wool with timely benefits to the sheep breeders around the year.

Market Development Assistance to the tune of Rs. 8 lakh has been provided to the State Wool Federation for covering expenditure incurred on procurement of wool and its subsequent sale.

An amount of Rs. 10 lakh has been given to the Wool Federation for organizing camps for sheep breeders in Kangra, Una, Solan, Hamirpur, Bilaspur and Sirmaur districts. The First Sheep Breeders' Camp was organised on 2.2.2009 at Nurpur in Kangra district. Information on scientific sheep management is being provided to the sheep breeders along with Medicine Kits containing feed supplements, wound dressing material, thermometer etc.

An amount of Rs. 4.75 lakh has been provided to the woolfed for the construction of Sheep Dip and Multipurpose Extension Centre at Village Kamathu in Kangra District. This will benefit sheep breeders passing through this village during migration to a great extent as they will get all facilities of sheep health-care and wool shearing under one roof. Financial assistance of Rs. 25 lakh has been provided to the woolfed for purchasing 5 shearing machines alongwith accessories. These machines have been kept at Multipurpose Extension Centres and sheep breeders would be provided with facility of shearing wool with machines which are faster and improves quality of wool as well.

In order to attend to day to day problems of the sheep breeders, a toll-free number has been installed in the Directorate of Animal Husbandry Shimla. Sheep breeders can call at 0177-2633543 to avail of this facility.