Rijiju advocates saving livestock and animals during disasters

GUWAHATI, May 25:
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju today said in times of natural disasters, focus should also be on saving livestock and animals apart from shielding human lives as animals are important for the rural agrarian population.
“Normally the focus is on saving human lives during emergencies. But we forget that the very survival…. especially in rural areas….Is directly linked to cattle and livestock. The focus should be on saving animals also,” Rijiju underscored.
During Inauguration of a training programme on ‘Management of Animals in Emergencies’ here organised by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Rijiju pointed out the importance of Yaks for people in high altitude places who depend on the animals for multiple use of food, clothing and transportation.
The minister, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh, also cited the importance of the large semi-domesticated bovine Mithun (gayal) in the tribal society of his state for social rituals.
“The people in the urban areas are fed by those in rural areas where the people’s very survival at times depends on the domestic animals,” he pointed out.
“It is the Constitutional obligation of every citizen to protect wildlife and animals,” Rijiju said, adding, “we need to sensitise people right from school level to post-graduation.
“The approach towards disaster management needs to change in terms of prevention, preparedness and mitigation. When a disaster strikes the focus must be on providing immediate response and relief”, he said.
He appreciated the initiative of the NDRF in association with the World Animal Protection (WAP), Policy Perspective Foundation (PPF) and Veterinary Emergency Response Unit in focussing on animal rescue and management through the training session for the first time.
Lauding the NDRF’s role in times of emergencies, he said India has today emerged as one of the leading countries in providing quick response to disasters. The Centre has recently sanctioned two additional NDRF battalions – one in Varanasi and one in Arunachal Pradesh – to boost the capabilities of the Force, the union Minister said.
Assam Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Dr Bhumidhar Barman highlighted the importance of cattle and livestock in rural areas and said saving the animals in times of disasters was crucial to the survival of the people there.
Pointing out that Assam was affected by natural disasters, including floods, cyclones and earthquakes, Barman said such training programmes were crucial and timely for the state.
NDRF Director General O P Singh said, “In times of both man-made and natural disasters animals are displaced and abondoned. Hence capacity development to mobilise fodder and provide safe passage to animals during emergencies is a must.
“Taking into account the outcome of the conference, NDRF will continue to work with WAP to ensure India’s animals and, therefore, its communities are better protected during disasters,” Singh said.
WAP Country Director Gajendra Sharma said, “we are here to plan sustainable disaster management solutions that will help to protect not only our communities, but also the animals that 70 per cent of our people depend upon for survival.”
The six-day training programme beginning today in the College of Veterinary Science here is part of a series of six such exercises involving all 12 battalions of NDRF across the country. (PTI)

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