From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Oct 14: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has directed the Finance Department to immediately release Rs 13 crore for treatment and vaccination of cattle suffering from lumpy skin disease and also provide relief for the dead cattle.
Speaking at a meeting to review the fast spreading disease among the cattle in Bengaluru on Friday, he said Rs 2 crore had already been released as the compensation for the dead cattle.
An additional Rs 5 crore will be released towards the treatment of diseased cattle and Rs 8 crore for vaccinating them. This disease has been noticed in 4380 villages of 160 taluks in 28 districts. Of the total 45,645 cattle afflicted by this disease, 26,135 have recovered and 2070 have died.
15 lakh vaccines to be provided
Bommai said as many as 6.57 lakh cattle have been vaccinated so far.
As per guidelines of Government of India, even the healthy cattle within five km range where this disease has been noticed, must be vaccinated.
The vaccination must be done on priority in the chronically affected districts and immediately obtain 15 lakh doses of vaccine from the companies approved by the Government of India.
The secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry must take steps for the starting of vaccination immediately.
While Rs 2 crore had been paid as compensation for the deceased cattle, Rs 46.15 lakh was pending and that must be disbursed at the earliest.
‘Will not spread to people’
Bommai clarified that the disease will not spread to people by drinking the milk from the diseased cows and awareness in this regard must be done on a big scale.
Steps must be taken to check this disease in the badly-hit districts, Haveri and Kolar and take preventive steps so that it is not spread to other districts. Before that the vaccination drive must be intensified.
Minister for Animal Husbandry Prabhu Chavan, Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary N Manjunath Prasad, Finance Department Secretary P C Jaffer, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences Department Secretary Salma Fahim and others were present.
State govt employees consent for Punyakoti adoption scheme
A delegation of State Government Employees Association led by its president C S Shadakshari called on the chief minister and presented a letter on behalf of the employees affirming their consent for deduction of varying amounts from their salaries during the months of October and November towards the Punyakoti Cow adoption scheme.
As per the consent letter presented to the Chief Minister, Group A officers will be contributing Rs 11,000, Rs 4,000 by Group B and Group C employees Rs 400 each. The total amount to be deducted from the salaries in instalments will be around Rs 80 crore to Rs 100 crore.
The Chief Minister warmly appreciated the gesture of the State Government employees and said the government is providing shelter and taking care of over 1 lakh cows. It is the responsibility of all to protect cows.
As a response to the State Government Employees agreeing to contribute towards the Punyakoti Cow Adoption Scheme, Bommai said the government would respond by constituting the promised pay commission by this month itself. He also agreed to consider the demands of the employees for payment of incentives for better performance and adoption latest technological tools in administration.
The Chief Minister later inaugurated the Buddha Mantap and Ambedkar Mantap in Nagasena Educational Institution premises and also laid the foundation stone for construction of the Dr B R Ambedkar exhibition building.
Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramadas Athavale was also present at the function.