ANIMAL WELFARE CLUBS IN SCHOOLS

ANIMAL WELFARE CLUBS IN SCHOOLS

Children in schools across the State may soon be exposed to the thrill and rigours of rearing animals and birds at home, thanks to an ambitious programme launched by the Department of Animal Husbandry. The programme seeks to extend the Animal Welfare Club activities to 140 schools this year, under plans to trigger interest in animal husbandry among children. Targeted at students of standard 7, 8, and 9, the school-level clubs will be supported by Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs). Quail, rabbit and goat kids will be distributed free of cost to children interested in rearing them at home. The students and their parents can pocket the returns from the animals and birds. “The programme is being extended on demand after the pilot phase covering 50 schools last year turned out to be a success,” says R.Vijayakumar, Director, Animal Husbandry. “There was a good response from students and that triggered a new demand for the club to be extended to more schools.”

The department also sponsored study tours for children in selected schools to the hi-tech dairy farms at Mattupetty and Kulathupuzha, the pig farm at Koothattukulam, the Central hatchery at Chengannur, and the Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals, Palode. “It was a good experience for 40 children studying in the Cotton Hill Government Girls Higher Secondary School,” Dr. Vijayakumar said. He said the department farms were gearing up to ensure adequate supply of goat kids, rabbits, chicken, and turkey as well as ornamental birds. The children enlisting for the programme will also be provided with cages and animal and bird feed in the initial stage. While two teachers from each school will be trained to assist the children in rearing the animals, the PTAs will monitor the project. The schools participating in the programme will be provided with an assistance of Rs.20,000 each. “During the pilot phase last year, the children selected from Thrissur for poultry farming could provide eggs for the noon meal scheme in their respective schools,” Dr. Vijayakumar said. 

                                                       Prof. John Kurakar