The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Relief package for poultry industry on the anvil

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Relief package for poultry industry on the anvil

Special Correspondent

All-party delegation, led by CPI leader K. Narayana, calls on Chief Minister

HYDERABAD : A relief package to rehabilitate the poultry industry, which is estimated to have suffered a loss of at least Rs. 400 crores, is being worked out by the Government with the farmer in focus.

Karnataka and Maharashtra Governments have already adopted relief packages, one of the highlights of which is payment of Rs. 20 as compensation for each bird culled. Among the measures being contemplated is making available working capital to farmers to restore poultries.

These issues came up for discussion when an all-party delegation, led by CPI State secretary K. Narayana, called on Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Friday. Dr. Reddy asked officials of the Animal Husbandry Department to study the package in the two neighbouring States and recommend relief measures for poultry farmers in the State.

Awareness planned

The Chief Minister accepted a suggestion that the ongoing `rythu chaitanya yatras' be utilised to create awareness among people as part of a sustained campaign. He said continuous and sustained sensitisation of people about the safety in consumption of chicken would encourage consumers to eat the meat without any apprehensions.

He said they also needed to be enlightened about chicken gunya as it had nothing to do with poultry industry. He recalled his announcement that the Government would pay a sum of Rs. 10 lakhs to the family of any person who died due to chicken gunya.

The meeting was attended by Animal Husbandry Minister G. Surya Rao, Congress leaders -- N. Thulasi Reddy and M. Kodanda Reddy -- CPI (M) leader Y. Venkateswara Rao, former MLA and president of the CPI-affiliated AP Rythu Sangham, K. Ramakrishna and another CPI leader Kolli Nageswara Rao.

Measures suggested

They said following media reports on bird flu, the Centre had banned supply of chicken and eggs in the army, railway and other Government organisations without a scientific verification of the claims. The Government must, therefore, take measures to re-introduce chicken and eggs in all Government supplies and order waiver of loans. Meanwhile, an official press release said Dr. Reddy asked bureaucrats to come up with a scheme to extend insurance coverage to 2.13 crore sheep population from June 1.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail