The state government had decided to open one Livestock Aid Centre (LAC) in each panchayat 5 years ago to develop livestock. Fund was also allotted for the same. But the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department Odisha has failed to implement it.
According to the available information, LAC has been opened in 2939 panchayat of the state out of the 6234 panchayat up to 2009. The department tried to open remaining 3295 LAC. But in the financial years 2013-2014, 2014-2015 a single LAC could not been opened. Due to this, information regarding animal diseases is not available to farmers.
In the memorandum of finance department for the year 2011 there was direction to decreased office workers. According to it, no new post will be created in any plan, non-plan, central scheme, or centre sponsored scheme. But 900 LAC have been approved by the department though there is prohibition. Despite of this no service was availed to the Livestock Inspector (LI) from the LAC. In between this the government has created 300 Livestock Inspector posts and yet not given approval for other 600 posts.
The department has not only failed to open LAC but also failed in producing milk in the state. The milk production has decreased to 35% in last 5 years.
The report revealed that, the department has failed to achieve the target to produce milk in last 5 years. The milk production has decreased from 2010-2011 to 2014-2015. In 2010-2011, the milk production target was 1919 thousand metric ton but only 1670 thousand metric ton was produced. That year the milk production was 13 % less while in 2014-2015 it has touched 35%. Last year the target was to produce 2945 thousand metric ton milk but only 1903 thousand metric ton was produced.