Agartala, July 25:
In a landmark move for the state’s agricultural sector, Tripura officially launched its first-ever Livestock Insurance Scheme during a program held at Pragna Bhavan here on Friday.
The scheme, introduced under the National Livestock Mission (NLM) by the Government of India, aims to shield farmers from devastating financial losses caused by the death of their animals.
Inaugurating the scheme as the Chief Guest, Sudhangshu Das, Tripura’s Minister of Animal Resources Development Department (ARDD), Fisheries & Scheduled Caste Welfare, highlighted its transformative potential.
“This insurance scheme has been launched in Tripura for the first time and will largely benefit our farmers,” stated Minister Das.
He explained that farmers often face huge losses when an animal dies, but now, by contributing only 15 percent of the total insurance premium, they can significantly minimize that risk. The remaining 85% of the premium cost will be borne by the Central and Tripura State governments in a 90:10 ratio.
Minister Das urged livestock farmers across Tripura to actively enroll in the scheme. “I urge livestock farmers across the state to actively avail themselves of this beneficial scheme to protect their animals and secure their livelihoods against unforeseen losses,” he emphasized, reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting farmers and promoting rural prosperity.
The scheme provides comprehensive coverage for a range of animals, including indigenous and crossbred milch cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, and pigs. It is designed to offer timely financial relief to farmers facing animal mortality.
The Animal Resources Development Department, Tripura, will implement the scheme statewide in partnership with the Agriculture Insurance Company of India.
The initiative has received substantial backing from the Central Government, which has approved ₹913.66 lakhs to support its implementation.
The scheme is expected to enhance the financial security of livestock farmers and promote sustainable animal husbandry practices across Tripura.
Farmers present at the launch event welcomed the initiative, expressing relief after years of facing uncompensated losses. “This will benefit us greatly as earlier there was no insurance for livestock and so many farmers faced losses,” shared one attendee, reflecting a common sentiment.
The launch program featured awareness sessions and discussions underscoring the critical role of the scheme in mitigating farmers’ risks.
In a significant gesture, six livestock farmers were felicitated with the first policy certificates by the dignitaries present, including Dr. Neeraj Kumar Chanchal, Director of ARDD; Biswajit Shil, Sabhadipati of West Tripura Zilla Parishad; and Deepa D. Nair, Secretary of ARDD.
The strong interest in the scheme was evident, with approximately 300 participants – including departmental officials and livestock farmers from across the state – attending the launch event. This landmark initiative marks a crucial step towards bolstering the resilience and economic well-being of Tripura’s rural farming communities.
