Date:26/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/26/stories/2005052603260300.htm

Karnataka - Bidar

Insurance scheme for shepherds from June

Staff Correspondent

BIDAR: An insurance scheme for sheep and shepherds will be launched in Bidar in June, the Minister for Animal Husbandry and Wakf, Mirajuddin Patel, has said. Karnataka is the first State to introduce such a scheme, Mr. Patel told presspersons during a personal visit to Bidar on Tuesday.

According to him, one lakh families involved in sheep rearing and 10 lakh sheep will be covered in the first phase of the scheme. Shepherds and their sheep will be insured for a yearly premium of Rs. 60. While shepherds will have to pay Rs. 10, the balance will be paid by the Government. In the event of the death of a sheep, the shepherd will get Rs. 1,500 while Rs. 50,000 will be paid to the family members of a shepherd if he/she dies. The State Government has kept aside the first year's premium amount of Rs. 5 crores, Mr. Patel said.