Jaisalmer: Amid a steady decline in camel population, Rajasthan govt’s Ushtra Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Yojana, a camel conservation scheme, has seen Jaisalmer emerge as the top-performing district in the state.Officials said around 700 camel herders in the district received Rs 10,000 each as the first instalment for the birth of 3,300 camel calves, with funds transferred directly to their bank accounts under the scheme. The district’s performance in disbursing assistance was cited as the key reason it secured the top position in the state under the scheme.Veterinarian and scheme in-charge Dr Ankit Pandey said the district disbursed about Rs 3.3 crore to camel herders, making it the top performer. However, he said the scheme’s objective was not only financial assistance but also a sustained increase in the camel population, with emphasis on tagging, regular monitoring, and data recording to maintain records of each calf.Joint director of the animal husbandry dept Dr Umesh Wargantiwar said the scheme provides assistance of Rs 20,000 per calf in phases. He said the first instalment is released after birth once tagging and registration are completed, while the second and third instalments are issued after ensuring the calf’s survival and proper care over the stipulated period.Camel herder Sumer Singh Sanwata said due to mechanization the need for camels in farming, transportation and daily work had reduced significantly and their numbers also began to drop as camel rearing became expensive.Padam Singh from Bhopa village, who has around 50 camels, said he received approximately Rs 1.4 lakh for newborn camel calves. He said the declining utility of camels had deepened financial pressures but the scheme gave him renewed hope that camel rearing can again become a strong source of livelihood.
