Health & SocialImportant2025-03-05

Livestock Health Programme Revision Approved

In News

What Happened

On March 5, 2025, the Union Cabinet approved the revision of the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) with an outlay of Rs 3,880 crore for 2024-26. The revised scheme introduces a new component, 'Pashu Aushadhi', with a dedicated budget of Rs 75 crore. This component will provide affordable generic veterinary and ethno-veterinary medicines through PM-Kisan Samriddhi Kendras and cooperative societies.

Why It Matters

Livestock rearing supports the livelihood of over 70 percent of rural households in India, but diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Lumpy Skin Disease cause massive economic losses. By ensuring vaccination, mobile veterinary units, and affordable medicines, the scheme aims to boost livestock productivity, increase farmers' incomes, and support the export potential of India's dairy and meat sectors.

Background

History & Context

The LHDCP is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying to mitigate animal health risks through prophylactic vaccination. Historically, it integrated various disease control efforts like the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) which focused heavily on eradicating FMD and Brucellosis. The growing economic impact of recent outbreaks, such as Lumpy Skin Disease, highlighted the need for better grassroots veterinary infrastructure and affordable medicines, prompting the 2025 restructuring.

What Changed

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Veterinary Medicines: BEFORE, there was no centralized scheme component specifically for generic animal medicines. NOW, the 'Pashu Aushadhi' component provides generic and traditional ethno-veterinary medicines affordably via PM-Kisan Samriddhi Kendras.
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Funding Allocation: BEFORE, funding was distributed across older scheme phases. NOW, a dedicated Rs 3,880 crore is allocated specifically for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 period, with Rs 75 crore explicitly earmarked for the new medicine initiative.
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Structural Consolidation: BEFORE, disease control and infrastructure operated with somewhat fragmented delivery. NOW, the revised LHDCP officially integrates three distinct pillars: NADCP for mass vaccination, LH&DC for mobile veterinary units, and Pashu Aushadhi for affordable medicines.

Prelims Angle

NCERT Connection

This connects to Class 11 Indian Economic Development, Chapter 6 (Rural Development), which highlights animal husbandry as a key strategy for agricultural diversification, rural employment, and poverty alleviation. The LHDCP is a direct policy intervention to protect this non-farm rural income from biological and disease shocks.

Practice Questions

Q1

Correct Statement(s)

With reference to the revised Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP), consider the following statements: 1. The newly introduced 'Pashu Aushadhi' component aims to distribute generic veterinary medicines exclusively through private corporate pharmacies. 2. The programme targets the eradication of diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) through mass vaccination. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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