Some women from villages within a 15-20 km. radius of Bhikangaon, the Urban Municipal Council for Khargone district, are preparing to start work as “pashu-sakhis” (friends of animals).

In August 2023, Arjun More of Samaj Pragati Sahayog’s ‘Livestock Development Programme’ attended training sessions at The Goat Trust, Lucknow. That was where he learned of the pashu-sakhi initiative – starting which in his own area would involve selecting 10 nearby villages with not fewer than 250-300 goat owners each, and making a list of 20 women members from every village who were willing to undergo basic veterinary training.

From the lists compiled on his return, seven women from six villages were selected for training in the health and treatment of animals. These women were chosen on the basis of their higher financial distress and greater need of employment.

The aim was to further women’s empowerment through jobs, as well as to ensure timely treatment for local livestock. While Samaj Pragati Sahayog’s ‘Livestock Programme’ does have one paravet for every group of six to eight villages, it is difficult for these paravets to attend to other villages that are, say, 20 km. away. This was why it was decided to implement the pashu-sakhi scheme here.

Discussions were held with the selected women and their family members, and it was understood that these women would work in their own villages, and earn money through treating the health problems of local livestock.

Once the women and their families came on board, The Goat Trust, Lucknow, sent across coordinator Prashant Singh and trainer Dharmendra Singh. The duo conducted the first 5-day training in December, during which the women learned about deworming, and how to make and use seed mixes, mineral bricks, liver tonic, masala bolus, neem oil, and various other aids to animal health. They also learned first aid techniques.

On completing the training, the new friends of animals or pashu-sakhis each received an “animal kit”, along with certain herbal medicines they would find useful in the course of their work. Subsequently, Prashant Singh and Dharmendra Singh also conducted field trainings for them in their own villages.

The women have already started their practice as pashu-sakhis in their own homes, neighbourhoods, and villages. They know what medicine to give when someone’s goat has diarrhoea or an animal is down with fever. Next, they will learn how to give vaccinations to goats.

Writer: Varsha Ransore

Source: Rabindra Kumar Barik

Photography: Anil Solanki and Sikdar Davar