IMPHAL, October 22: The All Tribal Students`™ Union Manipur has withdrawn its highway bandh following an agreement reached during a meeting today with the State government under Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, said deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam.
He was speaking at the inauguration of a free animal health campaign and distribution of rabbits under the scheme `Establishment of Mini Angora Rabbit Farm`™ at the Veterinary complex.
The programme was organised by the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Service, Manipur.
He said the programme which was originally scheduled for 11:30am was inaugurated around 3pm, because the meeting with ATSUM which started at 9am continued till 2pm, clarified the deputy Chief Minister for the delay in the opening of the function.
He said considering the inconvenience the general population would be faced with in the event of a highway blockade just before the Ningol Chakkouba festival, the government decided to bring the student body to the table and find an amicable solution.
The Veterinary and Animal Husbandry is an important department, although it seems that less emphasis has been given to the department, he said.
Expressing his concern over the present condition of the department, he said it is not the same as it was some 40 years ago.
Now, it seems that the government has to keep a special eye on the department to improve it, Gaikhangam maintained.
He said the department helps in protecting the live stocks for the general public, and the health of the public largely depends on the conduct of the department.
Two of the most important department, the Directorate of Information and Public Relation and the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry seem to be neglected the most, he said before adding that it would be best to take some initiatives to strengthen the two departments.
Meanwhile, the deputy Chief Minister appealed to beneficiaries who received the Angora rabbits distributed by the department to rear the rabbits properly and help themselves to improve their own economic conditions.
Veterinary & Animal Husbandry minister Govindas Konthoujam also spoke during the occasion.
Director, Dr Saigokhum Joute said 15 Angora Rabbits each will be distributed to 30 beneficiaries from Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts with three bags of rabbit feed and Rs 10,000 for the construction of the shelter for the rabbits, he said.
The Angora rabbits originated from Germany, and those distributed today were brought from Himachal Pradesh and prefer colder climates, he said.
He said the Angora rabbit has thick fur which is also long and can be use to produce various items. Its fur cost somewhere around Rs 1000 to Rs 1500 per kg, Joute added.
At the end of the function, the deputy Chief Minister along with the minister inspected the infrastructure of the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Services office.