Incentive for pony owners hiked to Rs 10 thousand
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, October 28 2026: The Directorate of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry has proposed to increase the annual incentive for pony owners from the existing Rs 2,600 to Rs 10,000 per person.

Dr L Arunkumar Singh, Director of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, Government of Manipur, stated this today during the Meet the Press series organised by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations at its auditorium, today.

Regarding the recently launched Pony Registration System (PRS) by the Chief Minister, he said that officials of the department have started working on the system, which will help identify the total number of ponies in the State.

Incentive for pony owners hiked to Rs 10 thousand

According to the department's records, the pony population has increased this year.

An amount of Rs 30 lakh has been earmarked in the annual budget for incentives to pony owners.

Last year, incentives were provided to 1,150 pony owners by the Governor.

Following the launch of the PRS, the department submitted a proposal to increase the incentive amount to Rs 10,000 per pony owner.

Under the regional development and branding framework evaluated in coordination with the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), he said that each Northeastern State has identified a distinct Unique Selling Proposition (USP) .

Manipur's designated USP is Polo Heritage.

The Genetic-Based Selective Breeding Component under Polo as Manipur's USP comprises two components: selective breeding and infrastructure development.

The proposal to preserve the endangered indigenous Manipuri Pony, taken up jointly by the Ministry of DoNER and the Chief Minister has been approved, he added.

Regarding the National Livestock Insurance scheme, he stated that the department has been implementing livestock insurance for animals such as cows, buffaloes and pigs in accordance with the Ministry's guidelines.

The scheme is extended annually, and the current implementation marks its third phase.

Although there was a gap of several years, the insurance programme has resumed over the past three years, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed for its implementation.

From April 1 this year until now, a total of 2,456 animals have been insured.

He further stated that the establishment of a Pig Semen Processing Unit under the National Livestock Insurance scheme has been approved.

Under the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP), the Ministry provides vaccinations against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), brucellosis, Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) and Classical Swine Fever (CSF) from time to time.

He added that the NADCP aims to eradicate FMD by 2030 .

The seventh round of FMD vaccination has been conducted in Manipur, while the eighth round is under process, he said.

He further stated that the Ministry has approved the strengthening of check posts at Mao and Jiribam under the NADCP .

Under the Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD) scheme, vaccinations against diseases such as Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), African Swine Fever (ASF), Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS), Black Quarter (BQ) and rabies (ARV), along with poultry vaccinations, will be carried out from time to time.

Under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), the construction of Artificial Insemination (AI) Centres is under process.

The establishment of Community MAITRIs (Multipurpose Artificial Insemination Technicians in Rural India) will also be taken up soon.

Payment of remuneration and the organisation of block-level fertility camps are also covered under the RGM.

He said that the Mobile Veterinary Unit (MVU) service, launched on July 11, 2024, operates through the toll-free number 1962 .

A total of 33 MVUs have been operationalised across the State to provide veterinary services at farmers' doorsteps.

The service operates daily from 9 am to 5 pm, he said and added that the service has been a huge success, with a total of 7,205 cases received from April 1 this year until now.

Of these, 693 cases were resolved over the phone, while 6,512 cases were attended to through physical visits, he said.

Under the North Eastern Council (NEC), he said that the department has taken up two projects.

The first is Dairy Farming, a Way of Life for Scheduled Caste Farmers of Manipur, which has a total of 612 beneficiaries, with the first and second phases already distributed.

The second project involves the construction of five slaughter houses in Churachandpur, Senapati, Ukhrul, Imphal East and Imphal West to ensure the availability of hygienic meat to the general public.

Under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), the construction of a goat farm has been completed, while the construction of boys' and girls' hostels and the modernisation of the Veterinary Field Assistant (VFA) Training Centre at Khumbong have been approved.

The Director said that the department has three existing farms: a duck farm at Lamphel, a poultry farm at Khumbong and another poultry farm at Ningthoukhong.

He added that borewells have been installed at the poultry farm in Ningthoukhong and the duck farm at Lamphelpat.

He further stated that the State Veterinary Hospital, a referral hospital, receives an average of 80 to 100 patients per day.

The installation of an X-ray machine at the hospital will also be undertaken soon.

Under the Pashu Aushadhi Vikray Kendra scheme, a target has been set to open 87 pharmacies across the State.

In the first phase, 16 pharmacies are planned at the district level, one at the State level and 70 at the block level.

He said that the department is working to open these pharmacies soon.

Under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI), an amount of Rs 100 crore has been earmarked.

He said that the eligibility criteria under the scheme include the appointment of a nodal officer, constitution of an NDLM committee, creation of an ISS post, uploading of dairy data on the Dairy Bikash portal, mapping of veterinary infrastructure on the Bharat Pashudhan portal, and establishment of a State fodder resource plant.

Of these six criteria, the department has fulfilled five, he added.

He also stated that the department has a Liquid Nitrogen Plant at the ICDP Complex, Porompat, which plays an important role in various aspects of animal breeding and fertility.

He added that it is the only liquid nitrogen plant in Manipur.