Gaddi tribes of Himachal Pradesh now have reason to cheer. The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to extend insurance cover to this sheep-breeding community of about 4,373, which mainly dwell around the Dhauladhar mountain range. A meeting of the Himachal Pradesh Gaddi Welfare Board at Dharamshala, presided over by chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, arrived at the decision.

The Gaddi tribes are diminishing fast because of the cultural invasion by other communities. To give a boost to ship breeding, the main occupation of Gaddi tribes, the state has submitted two projects to the textile ministry. One of these two projects, with a volume of Rs 7.01 crore, seeks to genetically improve Gaddi sheep in Mandi, Chamba, Kullu and Kangra districts, while the other project worth Rs 2.40 crore is for the genetic improvement of Rampur Busheri sheep in the districts of Shimla and Kinnaur.

Sources in the chief minister’s office told FE that the Centre has released the first installment of Rs 2.24 crore for the three-year-long integrated Wool Improvement Development Programme. Under this project, the registration of four lakh sheep in Mandi, Chamba, Kullu and Kangra districts is being carried out. The registration is aimed at extending the benefits to genuine sheep breeders. Both the projects are being implemented by the State Wool Federation.

The Himachal Pradesh government has fixed the procurement price of wool at Rs 35 per kg in summer, Rs 55 in spring and Rs 25.50 in the winter season, in order to sustain the market price. A revolving fund of Rs 30 lakh has been created for the Wool Federation.

The federation earlier procured wool from the breeders with its meagre resources and, as there was a gap between wool procurement and its sale, sheep breeders did not fully benefit. However, with the creation of the fund, Wool Federation is in a position to procure more wool with timely benefits to the sheep breeders throughout the year.

Sources say during the last two years, the state government has initiated a number of steps to ensure the welfare of sheep breeders in the state.