Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
The Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP), a vital initiative by the Government of India, aims to safeguard the health of the nation's immense livestock population. Introduced in 2022 and recently revised in March 2025, with an outlay of ₹3,880 crore for 2024-26, it is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying. The program's core objective is to reduce risks to animal health through prophylactic vaccination, enhanced veterinary services, improved disease surveillance, and strengthening of veterinary infrastructure, thereby preventing economic losses to farmers and ensuring food security.
Key Objectives of NLHDCP
The primary objectives of the National Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme are multifaceted, focusing on disease prevention, control, and eventual eradication:- To control and eradicate Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) by 2030.
- To control Bovine Brucellosis through vaccination.
- To control Classical Swine Fever (CSF) through vaccination.
- To provide veterinary services at the farmers' doorstep via Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs).
- To control economically important, zoonotic, exotic, and emergent diseases by assisting States/UTs through the Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD) component.
- To facilitate the availability of affordable generic veterinary medicines, including Ethno-Veterinary Medicines, in rural areas.
Components of the Revised LHDCP
The revised LHDCP comprises three major components, each targeting specific aspects of livestock health and disease control:1. National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP)
- Focuses on the control and eventual eradication of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis in cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, and pigs through mass vaccination drives to develop herd immunity.
- The goal is FMD control by 2025 and eradication by 2030.
2. Livestock Health & Disease Control (LH&DC)
This component aims to improve the animal health sector by controlling economically important, zoonotic, exotic, and emergent diseases. It has three sub-components:- Critical Animal Disease Control Programme (CADCP): Targets the control and eradication of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in sheep and goats and Classical Swine Fever (CSF) in pigs through 100% vaccination coverage.
- Establishment and Strengthening of Veterinary Hospitals and Dispensaries – Mobile Veterinary Units (ESVHD-MVU): Aims to provide doorstep veterinary healthcare services to farmers through Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs), accessible via a 1962 toll-free number.
- Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD): Provides financial support to states for controlling state-prioritized exotic, emergent, and zoonotic animal diseases, including Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD).
3. Pashu Aushadhi Initiative
- A newly introduced component in the revised LHDCP with an allocation of ₹75 crore.
- Objective is to ensure the availability of affordable generic veterinary medicines for livestock farmers, promoting non-branded, cost-effective veterinary drugs through PM-Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PM-KSKs) and Cooperative Societies.
Diseases Covered under LHDCP
The LHDCP targets several critical livestock diseases that significantly impact productivity and cause economic losses:- Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD): Highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals, causing reduced milk production, weight loss, and infertility.
- Brucellosis: A reproductive disease in cattle and buffaloes, leading to abortions, infertility, and decreased milk yield.
- Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR): A highly fatal viral disease primarily affecting sheep and goats.
- Classical Swine Fever (CSF): A viral disease in pigs resulting in high mortality rates.
- Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD): Affects cattle, causing debilitating skin lesions and severe economic losses.
Conclusion
The National Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) is a cornerstone initiative for India's vast livestock sector, crucial for the nation's economy and rural livelihoods. By comprehensively addressing major animal diseases through vaccination, surveillance, and improved veterinary infrastructure, the program aims to enhance livestock productivity, ensure food security, and mitigate economic losses for farmers. The recent revisions, including the introduction of the Pashu Aushadhi component and emphasis on doorstep delivery of services, further strengthen its capacity to deliver holistic animal healthcare and contribute significantly to the welfare of animals and the prosperity of rural communities.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.