“Encouragement of Scientific Goat Farming among Rural Women of Block for Sustainable Income Generation and Livelihood Security-A Motivational Programme”

ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Eastern Regional Station (ERS), Kolkata and North 24 Pargans Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ashoknagr jointly organized a motivational programme for promotion scientific goat farming for sustainable income generation and livelihood security to the rural women. The programme was planned under the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes (DAPSC) scheme of ICAR-IVRI-ERS, Kolkata for the year 2020-21.

The programme was conducted at the village (Sana Para) near Chandpara Bazar in Gaighata block of North 24 Parganas district in on 21st November, 2020 with the help of Chandpara Scheduled Castes & Tribal Welfare Association, Chandpara village, Gaighata. According to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of , the scheduled castes population of the Gaighata block is 48 per cent.

A total of 20 women beneficiaries belonging to scheduled caste community from six different villages attended the programme. All the beneficiaries are well experienced and involved in goat farming. Dr. Syamal Naskar, Principal Scientist and Dr. G. K. Das, Principal Scientist from

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ICAR-IVRI, ERS, Kolkata and Office bearers of the Chandpara Scheduled Castes & Tribal Welfare Association (CSCTWA), Chandpara, Gaighata were present in the programme and co- ordinated the events. Attention was paid to maintain proper social distance between and among the beneficiaries during the COVID Pandemic. The main aim of the programme was to highlight the DAPSC scheme in general and programmes already conducted in this district. Besides, expert lecture and interaction with rural women was to influence their existing goats rearing through scientific manner to earn more income.

The programme was initiated with the brief introduction by Mr. Malay Sana, Secretary of the CSCTW Association and then Dr. G. K. Das co-ordinated the programme. Dr. Das briefly highlighted the purpose of the programme, the reasons for selection of Gaighata block as well as Chandpara village, previous programme (s) conducted in the said block and the future programmes to be formulated based on today’s programme.

Then, Dr. Syamal Naskar briefed about the history of premier Institute ICAR-IVRI and also ERS-IVRI and the activities carrying out by the Institute for societal upliftment over the decades. He further delivered his speech on scientific goat rearing, breeding, feeding, and health care

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All the beneficiaries received awareness kit comprising of scientific literature on goat rearing like vaccination and deworming schedule, goat management, feeding, health care, reproduction etc. Besides, they also received mask, hand sanitizer, hand wash, head cap in a large bag and a kit bag consisting of feed supplements like vitamins and minerals, immune-modulators, liver extracts, herbal supplements to increase milk production etc. and a steel feeder.

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