The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India launched the ‘A-HELP’ (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) programme in the State of Jharkhand today. Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Co-operative, Govt. of Jharkhand, Shri Badal Patralekh was the chief guest of the programme. This program was launched in the gracious presence of Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, GoI, Smt. Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Co-operative, Govt. of Jharkhand, Shri Aboobacker Siddique P., Sr. General Manager, National Dairy Development Board Shri Lalit Prasad Karan were also present.

Minister, Shri Badal Patralekh emphasized the importance of role of women in the overall development of the state's livestock sector. He spoke about the 'A-HELP' program, which aims to empower women by engaging them as Accredited Agent who contribute significantly to disease control, animal tagging, and livestock insurance.  He highlighted that the new scheme would enhance access to veterinary services at the farmer's doorstep and empower Pashu Sakhis. Shri Badal Patralekh said that this endeavour serves as an exemplary integration of women’s power, fostering socio-economic progress.

Smt. Alka Upadhyaya participated in the event virtually.  She highlighted the pivotal role played by livestock and women in the comprehensive development of the livestock sector and congratulated the State Govt. for being one of the States with a growing livestock sector. She further added that this new band of community-based functionaries, named Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production (A-HELP) has been formulated to fill the void between local veterinary institutions and livestock owners and provide primary health services and will serve as Livestock Resource Persons and Primary Service Providers.

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) is embarking on a novel initiative named as “A-HELP” (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) and has already initiated across different States/UTs including Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jharkhand. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) has launched the novel initiative through an MoU signed between DAHD and the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Govt. of India.

During the launch event, A-HELP Kits were distributed to Pashu Sakhis, and the event witnessed substantial participation, with more than 500 attendees, including progressive farmers and Pashu Sakhis. This initiative signifies a significant step forward in promoting livestock health, extension services, and women's empowerment in the region, potentially leading to improved livestock productivity and rural development.

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