Himachal: Shepherd communities are afraid, they are excluded from livestock census

Himachal Pradesh: The central government has started the 21st livestock census in the country including Himachal. However, many migrant shepherd communities of the state fear that they may be left out of the census. Sources say that this time the central government is conducting the livestock census through a mobile phone application. In Himachal Pradesh, only two categories of migrant shepherds – Gaddi and Gujjar – are being included in the census. However, other migrant shepherd communities like Kanet of Kangra and Kullu districts and Negi of upper Himachal region fear that they may be left out of the census. The state advisor of Himachal Ghummantu Pashupalak Mahasabha, the largest organization of migrant shepherds in the state, says that migrant animal husbandry is an important source of livelihood, income and food security for the people of Himachal Pradesh. He said, “Himachal Pradesh is dependent on this pasture economy for milk, meat, wool and dung. As per the estimate of Himachal Ghummantu Pashupalak Mahasabha, more than 1 lakh families are engaged in animal husbandry in the state, which rears 20 lakh sheep and goats and 50,000 cows and buffaloes.”

Despite the existence of such a rich and important pasture economy in Himachal Pradesh, the migratory livestock initially counted by the Imperial Forest Department during the British rule was used as the basis for granting rights or facilities to migratory herders. Grazing permits were allotted to herders by the Forest Department on the basis of the census done by the British. After 1970, no new permits were issued. After more than 100 years, the livestock census done by the British has become completely outdated. “Many of us who own migratory livestock do not have permits. He said that while the animals residing in the villages are easily counted during the five-yearly livestock census, the migratory animals are regularly under-counted due to their movement to pastures during summer and winter seasons. He said that the non-inclusion of the pasture animal category and the subsequent under-counting has led to several challenges such as inadequate availability and accessibility of veterinary health services like dispensaries, dipping, vaccination and deworming facilities and complete absence of special Government schemes for migratory animals.

The livestock farmers of Himachal Pradesh are also facing challenges such as lack of access to pastures on their migratory route due to developmental activities and plantations on their pasture lands and theft of their animals. The forthcoming 21st Livestock Census with a targeted focus on the migratory livestock population is an important milestone towards ensuring season and location-specific provision of veterinary care, shearing facilities and other Government schemes to the migratory animals and herders. He said that it is therefore high time that the State Government ensures that all migratory animals are counted under the Census. Dr. Sunil Chauhan, who is involved in the 21st livestock census going on in the state, said that only the animals of the Gaddi and Gujjar communities are being counted in the mobile phone application-based census. The central government has developed the application. He said, “We will suggest on behalf of the state animal husbandry department that animals of other migratory communities should also be included in the application-based census. I hope that all the livestock of the state will be counted in the census.”