The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AH&VS) will roll out a 42-day Pashu Sakhi training programme across multiple tehsils in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from October 15, aiming to empower rural women as community-based animal healthcare providers.
The initiative is designed to build capacity at the grassroots level by equipping women with practical skills in livestock and poultry management. With a structured curriculum focusing on animal health, nutrition, and sustainable husbandry practices, the programme seeks to address gaps in veterinary outreach while simultaneously opening up new livelihood opportunities for women in rural households.
By extending the training across various tehsils, AH&VS has ensured accessibility for participants from diverse regions of the islands. This decentralised approach is expected to draw broad participation and strengthen community-level support for livestock owners. The decision reflects the administration’s focus on localized empowerment, allowing women to play a more active role in strengthening the rural economy.
According to programme details, the training will incorporate classroom sessions, hands-on practice, and live demonstrations. Participants will be guided through key aspects of animal care, ranging from preventive health measures and treatment of minor ailments to nutritional management, vaccination schedules, and poultry upkeep. Such practical exposure is intended to bridge the gap between traditional livestock rearing methods and modern scientific practices.
On successful completion, participants will be certified as Pashu Sakhis, enabling them to extend advisory and basic animal care services within their communities. The role of a Pashu Sakhi, meaning “friend of animals,” has gained prominence in several parts of India for strengthening last-mile veterinary care and supporting small-scale farmers. In the islands, where veterinary infrastructure is often limited by geography, such initiatives are expected to create a reliable first point of contact for livestock owners.
The programme also emphasizes the broader goal of women’s empowerment. By positioning rural women as service providers in a crucial sector, it is set to diversify income sources for households and reduce economic vulnerability. Officials highlighted that certified Pashu Sakhis can charge nominal service fees for their work, creating sustainable income streams while contributing to community welfare.
For the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where livestock farming supplements livelihoods and provides nutritional security, the training programme is expected to deliver both social and economic dividends. Better animal health management contributes directly to increased productivity in dairy, poultry, and small livestock sectors, thereby enhancing household income. At the same time, the availability of trained local service providers reduces dependency on external support and delays in treatment.
Community-based animal health initiatives such as the Pashu Sakhi programme are also aligned with national objectives of improving livestock productivity, ensuring animal welfare, and promoting rural entrepreneurship. The integration of women in this framework acknowledges their often under-recognised role in animal husbandry, positioning them as key contributors to rural development.
The training is scheduled to commence on October 15 and run for six weeks. AH&VS has encouraged eligible women across different tehsils to come forward and participate, noting that the initiative is structured to accommodate diverse local needs. The outreach is part of a sustained effort by the department to extend veterinary knowledge beyond formal institutions and bring it directly into the hands of communities that need it most.
As rural households continue to rely on livestock for both food security and financial stability, the Pashu Sakhi programme underscores a long-term investment in resilience and inclusivity. By creating a cadre of trained women professionals embedded within communities, the initiative seeks not only to enhance animal care but also to strengthen the social fabric of rural life in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The programme’s dual emphasis on livelihood creation and service delivery reflects the growing recognition that empowering women at the grassroots level can transform both household economies and community welfare systems. With its blend of skill development, certification, and local service orientation, the 42-day Pashu Sakhi training promises to be a step toward sustainable and inclusive development in the islands.
