Lok Sabha Question No. 2311 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-10
Subject: Livestock Census 2014
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Sudama Prasad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRYAND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRYAND DAIRYING LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2311 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 th  DECEMBER, 2024

## LIVESTOCK CENSUS 2014

## 2311.   SHRI SUDAMA PRASAD:

## Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  livestock  census  2024  aims  to  capture  data  on  transhumant  livestock  and pastoralist communities;
- (b) the details of the Government plan to ensure that the pastoral census comprehensively covers diverse  pastoral  communities  across  various  states,  particularly  in  remote  and  ecologically sensitive regions;
- (c) the details of measures has been taken by the Government to integrate pastoralists into the policy framework, and how will the data from this census address specific challenges such as access to grazing lands, veterinary services and market access for animal products;
- (d) whether the expected benefits of this census for livestock management and disease prevention within  the  transhumant  livestock  populations,  especially  as  these  animals  migrate  across diverse climatic zones and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRYAND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

- (a)  Sir, Livestock Census is a quinquennial exercise that has been conducted since 1919. The last livestock Census was conducted in the year 2019 which was 20 th Livestock Census. The 21 st Livestock Census is due in 2024 and the data collection work of this Census has been started from 25 th October, 2024. Census by definition is to collect information from each and every census  unit  including  pastoralist.  Accordingly,  21 st Livestock  Census  also  captures  data  on livestock with pastoralist communities.
- (b)    Yes  sir.  In  order  to  capture  each  and  every  revenue  unit  i.e.  villages  and  urban  wards  the updated local government directory of Ministry of Panchayat Raj is used as a frame to collect data.  Further  enumerators  have  been  instructed  to  use  the  villages  and  wads  maps  available with State Revenue Department while collecting data in census units. Members & volunteers of

Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) & Societies working with pastoralist communities are also involved to help the enumerators for identifying and tracing the areas having pastoralist so that information from remote locations will not be left unidentified.

(c)  &  (d)  Yes  Sir.  The  Department  of  Animal  Husbandry  &  Dairying  has  been  implementing schemes  like  the  Livestock  Health  &  Disease  Control  Programme  (LH&DCP)  and  Livestock Insurance to support the well-being of livestock, including those managed  by  pastoralist communities, who play a vital role as "keepers of genes." Pastoralists conserve indigenous livestock breeds essential for biodiversity and climate resilience while their traditional ecological knowledge sustains  livelihoods,  ecosystems,  and  adaptive  management,  as  acknowledged  by  biocultural community protocols. The data will also help in identifying the movement routes and thereby help in planning vaccination schedule and create physical check posts to prevent movement of diseaseridden flocks. Detailed data from the 21st Livestock Census will enable the Department to assess and address these challenges, integrate or revamp existing schemes, and develop new strategies to provide  targeted  support,  in  specific  breed  tracts  by  way  of  ensuring  good  germplasm  in  the identified  areas,  thereby  ensuring  sustainable  livestock  management  and  resilience  for  these communities.

.