Officials gear up to meet sheep distribution target

Kothagudem: The officials have been preparing to launch the second phase of the State government’s sheep distribution scheme, they are yet to meet the first phase target in many mandals.

The scheme, the brainchild of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, is an ambitious programme of the State government for economic development of the Golla and Kuruma (shepherd) communities in the State. The scheme was launched last year to help the shepherd community and increase the sheep population in the state.

However, the government officials in the district yet to meet 100 per cent target. According to official sources, the government provides each beneficiary a unity of sheep. The cost of each unity is Rs. 1.25 lakh, in that the government gives the subsidy of 75% and the only 25% is borne by the beneficiary. Each unit distributed to the beneficiaries comprises 20 sheep and a ram.

The first phase of the scheme will be over on July 31. But in six mandals the officials are not reached targets of distribution yet in the both districts of Khammam and Bhadradri -Kothagudem.

In the first phase, the officials had proposed to distribute 16, 324 units in Khammam district with 327 units by Animal Husbandry department. However, as per the records, officials could distribute only 13,000 units so far in 16 out of 20 mandals in the district. It means four mandals were not covered under the scheme. The mandals are Kusumanchi, Chitakani, Konizerla, and Penuballi.

The remaining 3,224 units have to be distributed in only ten days to reach the 100 per cent target in the khammam district. On the other hand, the officers have set a target 16,200 units to be distributed in the second phase of the programme, that will commence in the next month.

The same happened in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district. The authorities had set the target of distribution of 5,544 units in the first phase. Out of that, they have 5,388 units till date. The reaming 156 units have to be distributed. The officers are now planning to meet the target of distribution of sheep before the deadline of July 31.

According to officials, they are focusing on Yellandu and Laxmidevipally mandals to meet the target of 100 per cent distribution of sheep. Along with that, the district officials have set the target of distribution of 6,000 units in the second phase of the scheme.

Apart from distributing sheep on subsidized rate, the government has also given the Bheema facilities for every unit. If the sheep dies, the beneficiary gets Rs.5, 200 and if the shepherd dies Rs. 1 lakh is given to the deceased family.

The Animal Husbandry district officer Dr. Venu Gopal Rao said, “in first phase some of the beneficiaries were not interested to bear 25% cost of sheep though the government bears 75% cost. So we were not able to get 100 per cent distributions in that mandals.”

When informed that the some beneficiaries are selling the sheep provided by the government, the official warned against the same. “If any such complaint is received, action will be taken definitely against the beneficiaries,” he added.