No partisan approach allowed in sheep distribution: Kadiyam

​Warangal: There would be no partisan approach in distribution of sheep to shepherd families and all genuine beneficiaries would be given sheep, asserted Deputy Chief Minister K Srihari.

The beneficiaries’ selection would be transparent and simple and made through draw of lots in gram sabhas, he said. The Deputy CM along with the local MLA, Aroori Ramesh, has formally launched sheep distribution at Mallareddypalli in Hasanparthy mandal on Tuesday.

Srihari noted that the State government has taken up revival of rural economy seriously to check migration of rural folks to urban areas in search of livelihood. A policy has been adopted to encourage caste-based occupations and focusing on the welfare of a community every year.

In the first year, palmyra palm and silver dates palm trees planted to benefit toddy toppers, the second year fish seeds were distributed to fishermen and now yadava and kurma families were being given sheep. The shepherd communities in the State have great skills in rearing the cattle, the Deputy CM noted.

Across the State, nearly 7.18 lakh beneficiaries were selected and 50 per cent of them would be given sheep this year and the rest in next year. Rs 90 crores would be spent in sheep distribution in two years, he said and told the officials to ensure procurement of quality breed sheep,

Each unit would have 20 sheep and one Ram. It was planned to set up 100 mobile veterinary clinics to look after the health of the sheep and the clinics would offer door step health care to the cattle, Srihari informed.
On the day, the Deputy CM, Srihari also launched distribution of sheep at Parkal market yard along with ZP Chairperson G Padma, MP P Dayakar and MLA Ch Dharma Reddy.

Warangal Rural District Collector Prashanth J Patil informed that a toll free number: 1800-425-3424 was set up at the Collectorate to prevent irregularities in sheep distribution. The public could call the number and inform if they found any malpractices in sheep distribution.

A few beneficiaries wanted sheep procurement within the district as the purchase cost was increasing due to procurement from neighbouring states. The Collector clarified that procuring sheep locally would not help to increase the population of the sheep and it would defeat the very purpose.

Similarly, Tribal Welfare Minister A Chandulal distributed sheep at Karlai village in Mahabubabad district while Assembly Speaker S Madhusudana Chary distributed sheep at Shayampet in Warangal rural district.