Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Hon’ble Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj, today chaired a Virtual Awareness Camp on the occasion of “Animal Husbandry and Animal Welfare Awareness Month” (14th January–13th February 2026) across the country. Shri. Naresh Pal Gangwar, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Ms. Varsha Joshi, Additional Secretary, DAHD, Shri. Rama Shankar Sinha, Additional Secretary, DAHD, Dr. Naveena. B. Maheswarappa, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, along with other officers of the department also attended the session. More than 1.25 Lakhs livestock farmers from 28 States/UTs participated in the program virtually through 2,500 Common Service Centers (CSCs).

 

Addressing the gathering, Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel lauded the vital role played by livestock farmers in strengthening the nation’s economy. He highlighted that the animal husbandry and dairy sectors are key drivers in achieving the Honorable Prime Minister’s vision of a Viksit Bharat. Attributing India’s leading position in global milk production to the dedicated efforts of livestock farmers, he noted that the country contributes 25 percent of the world’s total milk output. Prof. Baghel also commended various government initiatives, including nationwide vaccination programs, the Rashtriya Gokul Mission and the adoption of Sex-Sorted Semen (SSS), which have significantly enhanced livestock productivity. He further underscored the importance of animal insurance and also stressed the need for timely vaccination to ensure animal health and sustainable growth of the sector.

Shri Naresh Pal Gangwar, Secretary, DAHD, elaborated on zoonotic diseases—diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans—and emphasized the need for effective disease control measures at the grassroot level to ensure healthy livestock and safeguard public health. He also highlighted the relevance of giving importance to Ethno Veterinary Medicine particularly in the context of rising Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR),   underscoring their importance in promoting sustainable and responsible animal healthcare.

The awareness program included expert-led sessions on pastoralism, ethnoveterinary medicine, biosecurity, vaccination, animal welfare, and animal-related laws, along with the screening of videos on Pastoralism and Vaccination for the livestock farmers . The Hon’ble MoS also interacted with the livestock farmers present at the awareness programme, who expressed their grievances and sought clarifications regarding the government schemes and programmes.

The Virtual Awareness Programme provided a platform for sharing knowledge on key topics such as animal welfare laws, improved animal husbandry practices for enhanced health and productivity, and the crucial role of livestock farmers in rural development. This initiative is part of DAHD’s ongoing efforts to boost awareness in the livestock and dairy sector by leveraging digital platforms and directly engaging with farmers across the country.

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JP.  

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