Other States - Puducherry   

Layer pullets distributed to push ‘backyard poultry’

— Photo: T.Singaravelou

PROMOTING POULTRY: Layer pullets distributed by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Puducherry, kept at a house on Mulla Street.

PUDUCHERRY: Encouraging households in the Union Territory to take up ‘backyard poultry,’ the Department of Animal Husbandry and Animal Welfare has initiated free distribution of layer pullets (young hens) to persons living below-the-poverty-line.

Covering 5,000 households in all four regions of the Union Territory, the scheme for distribution of 18-week layer pullets with cage and feed was implemented in October 2007. Till date, the department has covered 2,636 households in all regions, with 1,436 in Puducherry alone.

“The scheme was launched as per the announcement made by Minister of Animal Husbandry V. Vaithilingam last year. Through this, we want to encourage backyard poultry with households as our target. The response has been good till now,” an official of the department said.

Each beneficiary of the scheme would receive 15 birds along with a cage and 50 kg of feed.

Apart from encouraging backyard poultry, the department also seeks to promote the consumption of eggs which are the cheapest source of protein . The beneficiaries can sell the eggs.

“We have given them the required infrastructure. The 50 kg of bird feed can be utilised for a month. In future, they can run the backyard poultry with their own resources and bird feed. The beneficiaries have to take care of the maintenance aspect utilising their own resources,” the official said.

The beneficiaries could also have their own fresh stock of birds in the future. However, the department has provided health coverage for the birds under the scheme and any requirement for medications would be taken care of, he added.

“We are issuing applications for the schemes and those belonging to Below Poverty Line category with an annual income of less than Rs. 24,000 can apply. They should submit their income certificates and we would ascertain their applications,” another official pointed out.

But in cases of any default, the amount would be recovered from the beneficiaries, he added.

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

Stories in this Section

Layer pullets distributed to push ‘backyard poultry’
BJP to launch signature campaign against Valsaraj
NCC cadets get tips on personality development
Officials transferred
Rain lashes Puducherry
Ministerial staff asked to return to duty
Group houses for fishermen sought
Group D employees may join strike

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu