GUWAHATI: Assam Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister Atul Bora announced a new animal ambulance service at the National Agri-Horticultural Show 2021 at Bokakhat in Golaghat district on Thursday. The Assam government has introduced the animal ambulance service in an attempt to provide a new boost to animal husbandry and veterinary sector of the state.
Minister Bora distributed the animal ambulances named as 'Pashudhan Sarathi' to provide proper healthcare to the animals.
Minister Atul Bora took to Twitter to share about this new initiative. "Animal Husbandry & Veterinary sector in Assam gets a new boost. Distributed Animal Ambulances 'Pashudhan Sarathi' at National Agri Horti Show 2021 today in Bokakhat. These ambulances shall make it easier to reach distressed animals quickly & provide them with proper healthcare."
The National Agri-Horticultural Show 2021 started off at Bokakhat in the presence of Minister Atul Bora, Minister for Science and Technology, Water Resources Keshab Mahanta, Rajya Sabha MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa along with other dignitaries. The national event has been organised by the state government's Department of Agriculture, Directorate of Horticulture and Food Processing.
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal attended and addressed the event virtually.
The animal ambulance service was first announced in 2019 when a pilot project with six ambulances for livestock was launched. The ambulances were slated to include veterinary doctors and other staff who would venture out to Assam's remote and interior areas, where services of veterinary doctors are not easily accessible.
According to the 19th livestock census of 2012, the state has 19.8 million cattle including 435,270 buffaloes, 518, 070 sheep, 6.1 million goats, 14, 150 horses and ponies, 1050 donkeys, 1.63 million pigs, 527,520 domestic dogs and 450 domestic elephants.
The state also has 1517 veterinary polyclinics, hospitals, dispensaries and first-aid centers according to government records.