Reluctance marks the preparations for launch of the prestigious sheep development programme in Adilabad district. Many shepherds from the Golla Kuruma community are hesitating to contribute their 25% share of the unit cost based on their assessment of nitty gritty of the scheme.
The State government’s scheme to support the community in sheep rearing envisages supply of 20 sheep and a ram, constituting one unit, to each beneficiaries in two phases.
The unit cost is ₹ 1.25 lakh of which the subsidy component is ₹93,750 which includes ₹Rs. 15,000 for transport and insurance of the animals while the beneficiary has to pay only ₹31,250.
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Red sheep preferred
The Golla Kurumas of Talamadugu mandal, which has incidentally been chosen by the administration to ground the flagship programme of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi government, are of the opinion that the white coloured long tailed animals that are being purchased from far away places in Maharashtra will not survive in local weather.
“We want the red coloured sheep which are available in neighbouring Nanded and Yavatmal districts in Maharashtra,” Vilas Yadav, president of the Nandagopal Krishna Yadav Golla Kuruma Society at Sunkidi in the mandal, said expressing his apprehensions.
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“In order to remove apprehensions among the beneficiaries we have asked them to accompany the purchase teams to select the animals or wait till the flocks arrive to judge for themselves. If they continue to harbour a doubt they will get back their money,” asserted Adilabad District Veterinary Officer Rathod Shankar as he tried to convince the beneficiaries.
Raising money
Another difficulty being faced by a number of members of the Golla Kuruma is to raise money for contributing their share. Some of the traditional shepherds are borrowing the money from private persons on the condition that it will be repaid either in cash or in the shape of 10 sheep soon after the flock is handed over to them.
The total number of units required in Adilabad district is over 8,509 of which 4,323 units will be grounded this year and the remaining the next year, district administration explained.
The government has released already over ₹ 21.10 crore for each of the 31 districts as its share of the total cost of the scheme.
The government has allocated eight districts in Maharashtra for purchase of sheep for Adilabad district. The purchase team sent to Akola district, which at 350 km is the nearest, have already purchased 12 units and 20 more will be bought in the presence of beneficiaries.