To mark the 77th Republic Day, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying organised a special interactive session in the national capital with around 350 Rashtriya Gokul Mission MAITRIs and beneficiaries of the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund, along with their family members, drawn from across the country.
The special guests were felicitated during the interactive programme, which was graced by Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Panchayati Raj Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, along with the Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and senior officials of the Ministry.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh lauded the invaluable contribution of MAITRIs and AHIDF beneficiaries to the growth and resilience of the livestock sector. He appreciated their dedicated grassroots efforts in improving animal productivity, supporting rural livelihoods and strengthening last mile service delivery. The Minister highlighted key flagship initiatives including the National Livestock Mission, Rashtriya Gokul Mission, Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme and the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund, noting that these programmes are creating sustainable infrastructure and new income opportunities in rural areas.
The Union Minister emphasised the importance of adopting advanced technologies and scientific interventions such as Sex Sorted Semen and In Vitro Fertilization to enhance livestock productivity and genetic improvement. He encouraged beneficiaries and field functionaries to work in close coordination with the Ministry to achieve sectoral targets and contribute meaningfully towards the national vision of Viksit Bharat and Atma Nirbhar Bharat.
Shri Naresh Pal Gangwar, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, also addressed the session and reflected on the significant progress made under various government schemes in the livestock and dairying sector. He underlined the role of infrastructure development, disease control and capacity building in improving farmers’ incomes and strengthening the rural economy.
Senior officials including Ms Varsha Joshi, Additional Secretary (CDD), Shri Rama Shankar Sinha, Additional Secretary (Livestock Health), Dr Naveena B Maheswarappa, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, and Shri Jagat Hazarika, Advisor (Statistics), along with other senior officers of the Ministry, were present at the interactive session.
The programme provided a platform for beneficiaries to share their experiences and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to recognising and empowering grassroots stakeholders who play a critical role in advancing livestock development and rural prosperity.
