Were the veterinary officials of Telangana going to every nook and corner of Andhra Pradesh, looking for sheep units? The answer was yes, if one went by the version of officials, who are presently touring theState for sheep.
Visit to Karnataka
“We visited Karnataka and booked some sheep units. But later, it became difficult to come across sheep units. Hence we have moved to Andhra Pradesh looking for sheep. We are taking inputs of whoever comes our way,” said a veterinary doctor, on condition of anonymity.
For many of them, the day would begin at 5 a.m. and end at about 10 p.m. , depending on the distance they travelled . As there is no proper transport available, they had, in some cases, travelled in sheep-carrying lorries or auto-rickshaws.. In the interior areas, even drinking water was not available and the officials were forced, along with the beneficiaries, to depend on roadside eateries.
Allowances exhausted
“The ₹20,000 released by the government to meet our lodging and boarding expenses is already exhausted and some of our pocket money was also spent. We are no longer in a position to spend anything from our pocket,” said a veterinary officer, adding that they were taking shelter at veterinary hospitals or schools at night.
Each veterinary officer was entrusted with the responsibility of 100 units (2,000 sheep and 20 ram) and they were mandated to return only after procuring the animals, they said.
“The required units of sheep are available in Andhra Pradesh. The problem, however, is that many sellers here are not ready to accept payment through cheque as it will be reflected in their bank accounts and thereby attract tax. So, it is a big task persuading them,” said another doctor.
In one instance, the sheep sellers kept the officials waiting till it was confirmed that the amount mentioned on the cheques was credited to their bank accounts. They were also trying to sell sheep of all ages for the same price.
The doctors were also responsible for preparing documents for the beneficiaries — getting them filled in properly, taking photos of the sheep, and tagging them before transportation.
“We do not know when we will be able to meet our target and reach home,” said another doctor.
