| Lok Sabha |
The Government has constituted an Expert Committee involving the State Governments, technical experts and representatives of the poultry industry to examine the strategy to be adopted by the industry and trade in the event of a single stray incidence of avian influenza in the country.
This committee has been set up on the request of the All India Poultry Breeders Association for a joint meeting of different stakeholders to evolve such a strategy.
The remedial steps taken by the Government to save the poultry industry from bird flu include:
(i) Compensation: The Government of India shares cost of compensation for culled birds and destruction of food and feed materials. In the 2006 outbreaks, an expenditure of Rs. 785.12 lakh has been indicated by the States of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh on compensation for poultry and feed of which 50% is central share. During the recent outbreak in Manipur more than Rs. 94.00 lakh was paid as compensation for culled poultry.
(ii) Package for poultry industry after the 2006 outbreaks.
(iii) Control and containment: it was initiated in Manipur immediately so that country can claim freedom from avian influenza at the earliest.
This information was given by Shri Taslimuddin, Minister of State for Agriculture in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.
MP:AMT:CP:Loksabha(A)20.8.2007