STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: During the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, over 300 youths have been employed under the ALPCO (Assam Live Stock & Poultry Corporation Limited). "This has been made possible after an initiative of the ALPCO to open door-to-door sale centres of poultry and dairy products in different areas of the city. The employed youths also include sportspersons, actors, singers, and students," said the corporation's chairman Manoj Saikia. The ALPCO chairman underlined that the initiative to open the sale centres was taken following the appeal of the Chief Minister and the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister to the corporation to help the unemployed youths amid the pandemic.
"The sale centres bring hygienic meat from ALPCO Khanapara Slaughterhouse. From May 7 to 31, the ALPCO has been successful to sell meat worth around Rs 78 lakh from the centres. This includes 8,500 kg mutton, as many as 8,750 kg chicken, and 430 kg duck meat," said Saikia. Further, Saikia asserted that there are many opportunities to generate employment in the Animal Husbandry sector.
"The Animal Husbandry sector can vastly improve the State's economy by generating employment," he said.
Lastly, Saikia informed the media persons about the ALPCO programme — Pothar O Aamaar, Bozar O Aamaar. "This is a very promising programme and so far, around 18,000 youths have been trained under it. Out of the total youths, around 4,000 have already become self-sufficient by domesticating cattle. Moreover, modern slaughterhouses are being constructed across the State which will also help scores of youths to become independent," Saikia added.