Across the villages of Khairthal-Tijara district in Rajasthan, a large number of farming families rely on animal husbandry alongside agriculture to make ends meet. Rearing cows, buffaloes, goats and sheep, and selling milk and other animal products, has become a steady source of income for these households, strengthening their finances over time. But livestock farming carries a hidden risk too, the sudden death of an animal, which can wipe out a family's income overnight. It is in exactly this kind of crisis that the state government's Mukhyamantri Mangla Pashu Bima Yojana is proving to be a major support system.
What the scheme is meant to do
Under this state run scheme, owners are compensated financially when their livestock dies unexpectedly, so that they are not left devastated by sudden losses and can rebuild their livelihood. The goal is not just to hand out compensation, it is also to make animal husbandry a more secure and dependable occupation for rural families.
Umesh Devi's experience in Kotkasim
A clear example of how the scheme works in practice came from Rampur village in Kotkasim tehsil. During a rural service camp held at Bilaheri, a resident of the village, Umesh Devi, wife of Indrajeet Singh, came forward to benefit from the scheme. Umesh Devi is a farmer who also raises buffaloes, and a major part of her family's income came from that buffalo rearing work. Some time ago, one of her buffaloes died unexpectedly, dealing a heavy financial blow to the family.
Insuring the animal in time made the difference
What worked in her favour was that Umesh Devi had already taken the precaution, with help from officials present at the rural service camp, of insuring her buffalo under the Mukhyamantri Mangla Pashu Bima Yojana, and she had completed the required paperwork and process on time. After the buffalo's death, when she filed her claim, it was approved, and she received 40,000 rupees as insurance assistance. That amount pulled the family out of a difficult spot and gave them the means to continue their animal husbandry work.
Umesh Devi's appeal to other farmers
Umesh Devi said the Mukhyamantri Mangla Pashu Bima Yojana gave her family crucial financial support during a hard time. She appealed to other livestock owners in the district to make sure they insure their animals too, so that they would also have financial protection in case of any unforeseen event.
Which animals are covered
According to the animal husbandry department, the scheme provides free insurance for various categories of livestock, including cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep and camels. Its objectives are to provide financial security to livestock owners, promote the animal husbandry business, and strengthen the rural economy.
