The self-help group (SHG) members with extensive reach to the rural areas of the Assam are helping veterinarians to vaccinate pigs following outbreak of classical swine fever (CSF).

This has been a major help for the veterinary department which is currently vaccinating pigs in many districts.

Samples, including blood samples, of affected pigs have also been sent to Bhopal-based National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) for tests. The results will be out on Tuesday.

Till date 309,150 pigs have been vaccinated by the veterinary department of the state.

The “pashu-sakhis”, who are also SHG members’ community cadres in villages, remain in constant touch with the veterinarians. They are also the ones who advise other SHG members on veterinary issues.

Upon a scheduled visit of a veterinarian to a village they with the help of other SHG members tell villagers to bring in their pigs to a certain point. This effort has greatly reduced the workload of the veterinarians who would otherwise had to visit every household to vaccinate pigs.

Such efforts and community-based contribution could be seen in Sivasagar and Lakhimpur districts, an Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission (ASRLM) official said.

Pig population in Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Biswanath and Sivasagar are affected by classical swine fever killing around 1,964 pigs, state agriculture minister Atul Bora had said.

However, piggery farmers said the fever claimed over 10,000 pigs in the six districts.

“The SHG members are coordinating with the veterinary department by letting them know the number of pigs in an area. They inform people of a particular village that a veterinarian will visit the village for vaccination of pigs. Villagers then take their pigs to a common point where the doctors can vaccinate 200-300 pigs at a time. Otherwise, visiting every household or block becomes a formidable task for a veterinarian. However, while doing these, social-distancing norms are strictly maintained,” an ASRLM official said.

ASRLM officials feel that with mobilisation of SHG’s, rich in manpower, the veterinary department can achieve great help and can be replicated in other districts.

“This is a laudable effort by the rural women. On humanitarian grounds the help has been extended and there is no objection at all,” the director of animal husbandry and veterinary department, Pulin Das, said.