Mangaluru: District minister UT Khader Thursday said he would take up with chief minister DK Shivakumar the demand to increase the honorarium paid to Pashu Sakhis, who provide livestock services at the grassroots level.Speaking at the inauguration of the Pashupalana Bhavan here, built at a cost of Rs 4.2 crore, Khader said Pashu Sakhis currently receive an honorarium of around Rs 4,500 a month.“Pashu Sakhis, anganwadi, and ASHA workers are among the lowest-paid grassroots-level workers. Discussions will be held on introducing a scheme to improve their remuneration,” he said.He also urged the animal husbandry department to focus on increasing the livestock population and strengthening support systems for farmers.On the stray dog issue, he called for a practical and humane solution, and suggested that sanitation workers be trained to handle stray animals.Animal husbandry and sericulture minister C Puttarangashetty said complaints from poultry farmers that companies were paying Rs 6.5 per kg of produce, against their demand for Rs 10.5, would also be discussed with the chief minister.He said Dakshina Kannada and Udupi had not been declared drought-hit and that fodder was available for around 34 weeks.Dakshina Kannada produces approximately 3.5 lakh litres of milk daily, of which the Karnataka Milk Federation procures around 2.7 lakh litres. Farmers in the district received Rs 137.5 crore in incentives over the past three years, he added.Under the Anugraha scheme, Rs 68.4 lakh was paid as compensation for 634 cattle that died. A govt goshala in Kadaba currently houses 152 cattle. Funding of Rs 2.9 crore has been sanctioned for new goshalas. Of the 19 goshalas in the district, 11 received Rs 45 lakh over two years, he said.Veterinary colleges have been sanctioned for Mandya and Mangaluru. Around 100 veterinary hospitals, each costing Rs 50 lakh, have been proposed, subject to availability of land.Puttarangashetty said the department was facing a shortage of veterinarians. An inquiry is under way into alleged irregularities in Karnataka Public Service Commission’s selection of 400 veterinary doctors. Steps would be taken regarding the recruitment of around 700 contract Group D employees.Deputy director Dr Arun Kumar Shetty said the district had set a target of producing 10.5 crore litres of milk this year. Dakshina Kannada produces around 2.9 lakh litres and Udupi 1.3 lakh litres of milk daily. Dakshina Kannada also receives around one lakh litres from Shivamogga and Hassan districts, he said.The poultry population in the region has doubled to around 40 lakh in three years. The department has mobilised more than Rs 1 crore through corporate social responsibility funds for veterinary hospitals, Dr Shetty added.However, of the 447 sanctioned posts in the department, only 73 are currently filled, while 95 personnel have been recruited through outsourcing. He urged the minister to take steps to fill all the vacancies.
