Few takers for livestock insurance in Muktsar

Few takers for livestock insurance 

Archit Watts/TNS

Muktsar, November 1
The livestock insurance scheme of the Centre has failed to catch the fancy of cattle owners in the district. The data procured from the Animal Husbandry Department revealed that not even half of the target fixed was achieved by the department.
Against the target of covering 3,500 head of milch cattle, only 1,658 were covered in the last year. The situation has further worsened this year as only 72 head of cattle have been insured in the district till date.
The cattle owners (beneficiaries) have to pay only 50 per cent of the premium. The benefit of the scheme is restricted to two milch cattle per beneficiary having market price of Rs 20,000 to 50,000. The policy covers death due to pleuropneumonia and not in case of theft or injury.
The Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry, Naresh Kumar Sachdeva, when contacted, claimed that due to some problems the implementation of the scheme was proving tough and the targets were also not being achieved.

Courtesy: The Tribune