Bhubaneswar: In order to provide adequate safeguards for stray and destitute animals, the State Government has launched a scheme to provide capital grant for establishment of new Cattle Shelter Houses/Goshalas in the State.
The Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Department has launched the new schemes which will be implemented in close coordination with Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), District Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), voluntary non-government organizations (NGOs) involved in animal welfare activities and State Animal Welfare Board.
Voluntary non-government organizations involved in animal welfare can avail grants from the State Government for establishment of new Cattle Shelter Houses/Goshalas in the State.
The scheme will provide financial assistance to such eligible organizations towards capital infrastructure support for setting up of Goshalas preferably in the urban areas for supporting the stray cattle issue in Municipal Corporation, Municipalities and NACs.
Government will provide a one-time capital grant ranging from Rs.16 lakh to Rs 52 lakhs based on the capacity of the cattle shelter. The eligible voluntary organizations can avail financial assistance for multiple components subject to an overall ceiling of Rs. 50 lakh under this scheme.
The proposals under the scheme are to be submitted to the Chief District Veterinary Officers in each district.
The State Government will also support the voluntary organizations involved in animal welfare to strengthen their infrastructural facilities so as to provide veterinary health services and shelter homes for stray, abandoned and destitute animals.
The scheme will be implemented by the State Animal Welfare Board through the District Society for veterinary hospitals, clinics, healthcare infrastructure, operation theatre, equipment, vehicles for transportation of animals, construction of kennels and shelter houses for sick and abandoned animals.
The Animal Birth Control Programme and the animal helpline will be strengthened and will be implemented in major urban locations of the State including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Sambalpur, Angul, Jagatsinghpur, Baripada, Berhampur, Balasore, Bhawanipatane, Rourkela and Jajpur.
Speaking at a workshop on animal welfare, the Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Minister Dr. Arun Kumar Sahoo emphasized that these schemes will pave the way for providing welfare of the stray and destitute animals in the State.The Department Secretary, Director, voluntary organizations and other senior officials participated in the workshop. CDVOs of districts participated in this workshop through videoconferencing mode.