Sustained livelihood: To ease poverty, poor widows to get cattle

All animals will be insured and provided free medical treatment

DERA GHAZI KHAN: The Punjab Livestock Department will distribute cattle worth Rs50 million among poor widows across the province in an effort to alleviate poverty. Application forms under the chief minister’s scheme are being accepted by the livestock department.

On Thursday, District Livestock Officer Tauseef Tahir told The Express Tribune that cattle will be distributed among poor widows on merit.  Only those women will be considered who are permanent residents of the village, are aged less than 50 and own land less than one acre.

In addition, Tauseef pointed out it is also mandatory that at least one child of the widow was enrolled at a school. He said the scheme would help eradicate poverty and would provide a platform to the poor women to earn a living.

The livestock officer said an agreement has been made between the widows and the livestock department under which they would not sell the cattle for at least the next three years. All animals will be insured and will be provided free treatment by the provincial government.

Recently, Punjab Housing Minister Malik Tanveer Aslam had given cattle to 250 widows at a ceremony at the Zahoor Elahi Cricket Stadium. The scheme was aimed at alleviating poverty and to help widows earn a sustained livelihood besides promoting self-reliance.

Under another scheme, the government planned to distribute cows, buffalos, sheep and goats among widows through a draw in 15 flood-hit districts of the province. The chief minister had planned permanent rehabilitation of widows and orphans of the province through a number of such initiatives introduced by the livestock department.

Another such project announced recently planned to give schoolgirls in Punjab poultry to care for in an initiative partly aimed at teaching them about the kitchen. The provincial government plans to provide girls in 1,000 primary schools with four hens, one cockerel and a cage. The project aims to promote poultry and educate students about nutritional values.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2016.