Some facts about Dengue and Chikungunya

1. The onset of monsoons not just relieves people from the scorching heat but also gives rapid rise to diseases. Significant rise to cases of both Dengue and Chikungunya have sent concerning alarming bells over the past many years particularly in the national capital (largely a disease of the southern states but has also bit Delhi hard). It usually happens around October and the stops only by mid-November.

2. Both Dengue and Chikungunya are mosquito-borne viral diseases whose vectors are the species of the Aedes mosquito. Both are characterised by similar signs such as high fever, headache, pain in the joints and eyes, rashes and lethargy. Dengue is spread by numerous species of the Aedes mosquito while chikungunya virus is transferred by two species of the same Aedes type mosquitoes. In India, Chikungunya was never a bigger cause of concern than Dengue, especially in the northern India. However, in the year 2016, there has been an increase in the cases of chikungunya.

3. The incubation period (the period between exposure to an infection and the appearance of the first symptoms) of Chikungunya is of 1-12 days and the duration varies from one to two weeks. However, signs such as joint pain are for a long time. The incubation period for dengue is of 3-7 days. Swelling and pain is high in Chikungunya as compared to that in Dengue.  Chikungunya can create the possibilities of tremendous joint pain. Whereas Dengue can cause bleeding in some cases, breathing problems, etc.

 4. The entire life cycle of Aedes aegypti lasts 8-10 days at room temperature, depending on the level of feeding. There is an aquatic phase (larvae, pupae) and a terrestrial phase (eggs, adults) in their life-cycle. Female mosquitoes lay their eggs on the inner, wet walls of containers with water. Larvae hatch when water inundates the eggs as a result of rains or the addition of water by people. In the following days, the larvae will feed on microorganisms and particulate organic matter, shedding their skins three times to be able to grow from first to fourth instars. When the larva has acquired enough energy and size and is in the fourth instar, metamorphosis is triggered, changing the larva into a pupa. Pupae do not feed; they just change in form until the body of the adult, flying mosquito is formed. Then, the newly formed adult emerges from the water after breaking the pupal skin. Only the female mosquito feeds on blood, which is needed for egg production.

5. The Aedes aegypti mosquito species, is primarily an urban dweller, can breed in pools of water as small as a bottle cap! Aedes aegypti females, feed almost exclusively on humans, not only prefer to live in and around human habitation, but also thrive and proliferate in these conditions. Their larvae are typically found in small, wet places, including discarded bottle caps, soda cans, cups and tires, as well as potted plants and vases. And their eggs can survive for six months or more without being in water. The adult mosquitoes rest in cool, shaded places in the home, such as wardrobes, laundry areas, cabinets and under furniture.

6. Roughly three days after feeding, the mosquito lays her eggs in several locations over multiple days. A single female can lay around 100 eggs per blood feed and can produce up to five batches in her one to two-week lifetime.

7.  Adaptation (the process of change by which an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment) of dengue vectors makes controlling their populations a difficult task. Their eggs can withstand desiccation for several months, which means that even if all larvae, pupae, and adults were eliminated at some point in time, repopulation will occur as soon as the eggs in the containers are flooded with water. Unfortunately, there is no effective way to control the eggs in containers.

8.  When female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes consume blood from an individual with circulating virus, the mosquitoes in turn become infected. Through biting many humans during their life time, female dengue mosquitoes spread diseases (it only takes one bite for a virus to be transmitted).  Male mosquitoes do not bite and therefore do not spread disease.

9. Larvicides are chemicals designed to be applied directly to water to control mosquito larvae. Adulticides are used in fogging and spraying to control adult mosquitoes. When a rapid reduction in vector density is essential, such as in emergencies, space treatment should ideally be carried out every 2–3 days for 10 days. Further applications should then be made once or twice a week to sustain suppression of the adult vector population. Continuous entomological and epidemiological surveillance should be conducted to determine the appropriate application schedule and the effectiveness of the control strategy.

10. One of the insecticides used for fumigation, malathion, can be hazardous for humans, especially for vulnerable groups. The World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) classification of hazardous insecticides puts malathion as a “Class III” chemical, which is “slightly hazardous”. But inhaling malathion can make the chemical more harmful. “Intake can happen through inhalation and also directly through the skin, and when in the liver, it forms a chemical called malaoxon, which is far more poisonous than malathion itself. Experts say that it is a very dangerous poison, especially harmful for children, pregnant women, and asthmatics. Fogging is harmful both in the long and short term. In the long term, it can have chronic effects, while in the short term; it can cause breathing problems and headaches in a normal person. It is especially harmful to persons with compromised breathing ability.

11. What makes chikungunya and dengue all the more concerning is that long-standing approaches to mosquito control are becoming increasingly ineffective (Aedes aegypti has already developed resistance to many common insecticides, and this resistance is passed on to future Aedes aegypti generations).

12. Anyone affected by chikungunya, the virus is unlikely to infect them ever again. This has been confirmed to TOI by virologists from AIIMS who said that unlike dengue, which can be caused by four serotypes of the virus, the chikungunya virus has only one serotype and hence the risk of repeated infection is minimal. It is possible to get dengue more than once. Being affected by one strain offers no protection against the others. A person can suffer from dengue more than once in her/his lifetime. AIIMS tested 3,500 patients suffering from fever in the last two months. Of them, nearly 2,000 (57%) were confirmed to be suffering from chikungunya. The prevalence of dengue was found to be just 5%. According to a study published in `Virology Journal' in 2014 that analysed immunity in the population affected by chikungunya in 1991 in Thailand, infection with one chikungunya strain confers lasting natural immunity , even against other strains.

(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/Chikungunya-virus-not-likely-to-infect-twice/articleshow/54493766.cms)

13. Dengue infection is caused by a virus. It occurs commonly as dengue fever. Occasionally the patient suffering from dengue may develop bleeding from common sites like nose, gums or skin. Sometimes, the patient may have coffee ground vomiting or black coal tar like stools. It indicates bleeding from gastro- intestinal tract. The dengue fever with bleeding is called dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). It can be fatal if it remains unrecognized and not properly treated. Rarely the patient suffering from dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) may develop shock, then it is called dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Dengue should be suspected when a person has sudden onset of fever. The fever is usually high 103-105 degrees F. It is accompanied with severe headache (mostly in the forehead), pain behind the eyes, body aches and pains, rash on the skin and nausea or vomiting. The fever lasts for 5-7 days. In some patients, fever comes down on 3rd or 4th day but comes back. The severe joint pain caused by DF is the reason why DF is also called break-bone fever. All the above symptoms and signs may not be present in the patient. The patient feels much discomfort after the illness.

14. Generally the dengue haemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome occur after 3-5 days of fever. By this time, fever has often come down. This may mislead many of us to believe that the patient is heading towards recovery. In fact, this is the most dangerous period that requires high vigilance from care-givers. The signs and symptoms that should be looked for are severe pain abdomen, persistent vomiting, bleeding from any site like, bleeding in the skin appearing as small red or purplish spots, nose bleed, bleeding from gums, passage of black stools like coal tar. Take the patient to the hospital whenever the first two signs, namely, severe pain in the abdomen and persistent vomiting are detected. Usually it is too late if we wait until bleeding has occurred. The most dangerous type of dengue is the dengue shock syndrome. It is recognized by signs like excessive thirst, pale and cold skin (due to very low blood pressure), restlessness and a feeling of weakness.

15. Most people who suffer from dengue fever recover in 1-2 weeks time. Some may feel tired for several weeks. However, if symptoms persist after this period, one should consult a doctor.  There are many people who are infected with the virus and do not suffer from any signs or symptoms of the dengue. For every patient with symptoms and signs there may be 4-5 persons with no symptoms or with very mild symptoms.

(Source for para13-15:http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect /63a3f080440 bb07 cbfe 2bf24a04cfff1/FAQ-dengue.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=63a3f080440bb07cbfe2bf24a04cfff1)

 

16. Treatment of Dengue and Chikungunya

There is no specific treatment for either dengue fever or chikungunya. Treatment for uncomplicated chikungunya cases is symptomatic, with a focus on rehydration and pain relief. Treatment is directed towards relieving joint pains using analgesics and fluids. The symptoms are often difficult to differentiate from Dengue, hence it is important to not take any Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs like aspirin, diclofenac and ibuprofen till Dengue is ruled out as these medicines can cause platelets to fall in Dengue infection. Rehydration is important in all cases of fever.  Patients with severe dengue should be treated with parenteral rehydration and platelet transfusion (Platelets are tiny cells in blood which form clots to help stop bleeding). Currently there are no vaccines available for Dengue or Chikungunya.

If you have fever, joint pains or any signs of Chikungunya or Dengue, please do not self-medicate and consult your doctor.

17.  Chikungunya and Dengu usually happen around October and stops only by mid-November. Most patients recover from the disease and serious complications are uncommon. If immune system of a person is weak then dengu can be  dangerous and occasionally develops into a life-threatening form (known as severe dengue), which causes abdominal pain and vomitting, breathing difficulty and a decrease in of blood platelets that can lead to internal bleeding. In some cases of Chikungunya joint pains can last for weeks to months causing severe disability. Cases with chronic joint pain lasting for years after Chikungunya infection has also been seen.

Prevention and control of Chikunguniya and dengue 

18.1 The main strategy in the prevention and control of dengue is "source reduction", or prevention of breeding places. Community participation is the key to dengue prevention. RWA should play important role in educating residents to tell their domestic helps regarding do's and don'ts regarding vector borne diseases.

18.2 Prevention of dengue relies heavily on preventing the mosquito breeding inside and in the vicinity of our homes. Every household should undertake simple measures to prevent water collections from becoming places for mosquito breeding. Draining out the water by regular changing of water from favoured places for mosquitoes breeding: desert coolers/window air coolers, water storage vessels (tanks, barrels, drums, buckets, mugs), flower vases etc. Remove all objects containing water (e.g. plant saucers etc.) from the house. Collect and destroy discarded containers in which water collects e.g. bottles, plastic bags, tins, used tyres etc. Household members should ensure that there is no exposed water collection.

18.3 Dengue mosquitoes bite during the day time (Highest biting intensity is about two hours after sunrise and before sunset).

·       Wear full sleeves clothes and long dresses to cover as much of your body as possible.

·       Eat plenty of garlic! Mosquitos have been known to be repelled by garlic.

·       Use repellents that contain DEET like dabur odomos cream to prevent mosquito bites. Lemongrass oil and eucalyptus oil work well due to their active component cineole, which has both antiseptic and insect-repellent properties when applied to the skin

·       Use mosquito coils and electric vapour mats during the daytime also to prevent dengue. Use Kala HIT, a tried and tested remedy to keep the mosquitoes at bay

·       Use mosquito nets to protect children, old people and others who may rest during the day. The effectiveness of these nets can be improved by treating them with permethrin (pyrethroid insecticide).

·       Spray garlic and neem water on plants (boil 100 gram neem leaves and 100 gram garlic cloves in one litre water. After it gets cool, strain it).

·       For every patient with symptoms and signs of dengue there may be 4-5 persons with no symptoms or with very mild symptoms. It is therefore suggested efforts should be made strengthen immune system- one should do regular physical exercise- 30 to 40 minute morning walk/ yoga, eat seasonal fruits before breakfast, eat sprouted-kaala chana, green moong, moth,etc and muesli ( a dish based on raw rolled oats and other ingredients like grains, fresh or dried fruits, seeds and nuts, that may be mixed with  milk), drink plenty of water. In the case of fever during monsoon season, patient may be given plenty of fluids- water,  ORS ka Ghol  (Namak and cheeni ka ghol), coconut water, Mousambi juice with salt, clear vegetable soup, etc. Patient should be given light food like patli moong ki khichdi ( prepared from moong kid al and rice), sabudana ki khichdi, dalia (prepared from broke wheat and fresh vegetables), upma, phoa ( prepared from phoa, potato, peanuts, etc).  One or two anjeer/ two or three munakka with black salt can also be given after roasting  on tava for improving the taste( zaika).

·       Maintaining a high number of blood platelets is extremely important after a serious illness, especially with diseases like dengue that cause blood platelets to drop to dangerously low levels. The Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine found that papaya leaf juice significantly increases blood platelet production.  Patients can take a tablespoon of the fresh papaya leaf juice twice a day, morning and evening (source: http://juicing-for-health.com/fruit-juicing).

Is it feasible for the States to reduce calf mortality and achieve reasonable annual growth rate in the number of ‘in-milk’ animals?

Is it feasible for the States to reduce calf mortality and achieve reasonable annual growth rate in the number of ‘in-milk’ animals?

Indian cows and buffaloes produce more nutritious milk than the exotic breeds like Jersey and Holstein-Friesian. A study by National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) showed Indian cows have a rich A2 allele gene which helps them produce healthier milk. The frequency of this A2 allele in Indian breeds is 100 per cent whereas in exotic cattle breeds it is less than 60 per cent. Imported breeds posses A1 allele, which is considered to be associated with diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases.

2. Indian cows are divided into two broad categories, one indigenous and second, exotic/crossbreed. Indigenous cattle belong to descript/non-descript breeds of indigenous origin. There are 37 descript breeds of cattle of indigenous origin. Cross-bred cattle   are produced by crossing indigenous cows with exotic breeds or indigenous cattle which have exotic inheritance. The share of crossbred cattle in total number of exotic and crossbred cattle is 86.68%. Besides this the share of non-descript cattle in total number of indigenous cattle is 74.92% while the share of non-descript buffalo in total number of buffaloes is 43.37%. There are 13 descript breeds of buffaloes of indigenous origin (Breed Survey 2013).

3. The total cattle population consisting of exotic/crossbred cattle (39.7 million) and indigenous cattle (151.2 million) in the country was 190.9 million and the total buffalo population was 108.7 million in 2012. The total cattle population has decreased by about 4.1% over the previous census (2007) while the total buffalo population has increased by about 3.2%. The share of cattle population in urban areas decreased from 4.41% in 2007 to 3.76% in 2012 and the share of buffalo population in urban areas decreased from 9.87% to 7.63% during the same period. 85% of bovines (cattle plus buffalo) are owned by landless, marginal and small land holding households (January – December 2013, NSS 70^th Round).

4.  The number of exotic/crossbred milch cows increased from 14.4 million in 2007 to 19.4 million in 2012, an increase of 34.8%. The number of indigenous milch cows marginally increased from 48.04 million in 2007 to 48.13 million in 2012, an increase of 0.17%. The number of milch buffaloes increased from 48.64 million in 2007 to 51.1 million in 2012, an increase of 4.96%.

5. The buffalo is backbone of the farmer’s economy of India. Buffaloes are also valued for meat and draught purposes. Nearly 36% of the milk production is contributed by indigenous (descript) buffaloes followed by 26% by crossbred cows. The indigenous (descript) cows contribute 12% of the total milk production in the country whereas non-descript cows contribute 9% milk production and non-descript buffaloes contribute 13% milk production. The fat content varies from 3.5 to 4.5% in cow’s milk and 6.5 to 7.5% in buffalo’s milk.

6.  The age of an indigenous cow, exotic/crossbred cow and buffalo at the time of first calving is 36 to 42 months, 28 to 36 months and 36 to 42 months respectively. The factor which most strongly influences age at puberty is nutrition level. The average gestation period in a cow and a buffalo is 283 and 310 days respectively. The estrus (heat) cycle length for the cow and buffalo is 21 days (range 18 to 24 days) with a heat duration of 12-24 hours (Period of maximum fertility: Last 8 hours of estrous).  The ideal cow or buffalo produces a calf every 13 to 14 months. Cows and buffaloes can live to 20 years by proper feeding and management practices. Accordingly number of lactations in the life cycle of a descript animal can be 10 to 12 by proper feeding and management practices particularly careful checking of oestrus behaviour ‘heat’.

7.  During 2014-15 all-India average yield per ‘In-milk animal’ of exotic/crossbred cows, indigenous cows and buffaloes was 7.15 Kg per day, 2.54 kg per day and 5.15 kg per day respectively.  In spite of the very low average milk yield of majority of cattle in India, it is found that when Indian cattle are kept under proper conditions of feeding and management, animals have shown encouraging results. The average lactation yields of Sindhi and Tharparkar herds at the NDRI, Karnal have been recorded an increase from about 1,200 kilograms to nearly 2,000 and 2,500 kilograms respectively. Also the average milk yield of Sahiwal herd has been recorded an increase from 1,000 to 3,500 kilograms at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. Some of the indigenous animals have produced more than 5,000 Kilograms milk per lactation. Brazil claims to have achieved higher milk yield and better animal health after working for decades on the germplasm taken from India. Better nutrition and high quality diet has improved Indian breeds in Brazil.

8.  The nutritive value of feed and fodder has a significant role on productivity of livestock. When the ration is properly planned, dairy animals convert large quantities of relatively inexpensive roughages into milk. A balanced ration is the amount of feed which is supplied in the correct amount and proportions of all  nutrients needed to nourish the animal properly for different purposes such as growth, maintenance, lactation or gestation during a twenty-four hour period. The fodder requirement for An Adult Cattle Unit (ACU) is   @ 7 kg dry matter (DM) consumption per day (i.e. 2% of the body weight of 350 kg). Ideally one third of the dry matter (DM) requirement should come from green fodder. The dry matter in green fodder and dry fodder are 25% and 90 % of their biomass respectively. High yielding milch animals (average milk production 10 kg /day) need 14 to 15 Kg of balanced feed and fodder per day. The vitamins/bypass protein and feed additive have an important place in livestock feeding. No farm produced feeds contain these additives; therefore, one must rely upon commercial sources for supplementing rations with these important substances. As a thumb rule one kg of concentrates is sufficient for 2.5 kg and 2 kg of milk production in cows and buffaloes respectively.

9. Cows and buffaloes are required to be given adequate feed during early lactation for the optimum milk production and to maintain adequate nutrient reserve, which help animals to rejuvenate well for next calving. For ensuring cows have adequate body reserves at the time of next lactation, it is also equally important that adequate feed is supplied to animals during the dry period. It is seen that cows that calve with adequate body reserves shows oestrous behaviour within two or three months after calving.  Contrary to that if cows calve with poor body condition, the milk production is adversely effected in early lactation because adequate body reserves are not available for contributing energy in milk production. High and quality feeding in early lactation cannot compensate for poor body condition after calving. Therefore, 2 to 3 kg of concentrates needs to be given to a cow/buffalo during the last 3 months of pregnancy. Additional nutrients/concentrate is required for fast growing foetus and for maintenance of health/body of cow for normal delivery and optimum milk production.

10. Lactating cows or buffaloes, which are not conceived within in 90 to 120 days after calving, continue to produce milk for 300 to 310 days and thereafter reduces milk production drastically. It is advisable and routine management practice to make a cow/buffalo   dry in last 2 months of pregnancy so that the feed may help in maintenance of body condition and health.

11. The major causes of low productivity in India are both intrinsic (low genetic potential) and extrinsic (poor nutrition/feed management, substandard farm management practices, ineffective veterinary and extension services and inadequate implementation of breeding improvement programmes).

12. The share of non-descript cattle in total indigenous cattle number is 74.92% while the share of non-descript buffalo in total buffaloes is 43.37% (Breed Survey 2013). It appears from the statistics that the major focus in India is on genetic improvement, particularly through exotic germplasm as during inter-censal period (2007-2012) there was an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.15% in the exotic/crossbred milch cattle. During the same period a CAGR of 1% and 0.03% was observed in the milch buffaloes and milch indigenous cattle. During 2011-12 – 2014-15, a CAGR of 3.82% and 3.02%   was noticed in the average yield of milk per day per ‘animal in milk’ for the indigenous cows and buffaloes respectively. This is perhaps, mainly due to genetic improvement of nondescript animals through pure indigenous animal’s germplasm    

13. All-India population of exotic/crossbred female cattle of under 1 year and in age group 1 to 1.5 years was 7028 thousand and 5464 thousand respectively as compared to 323 thousand and 363 thousand for Gujarat in 2012.   All-India population of  indigenous female cattle of under 1 year and in age group  1 to 3 years was 18038 thousand and 15769 thousand respectively as compared to 791 thousand and 1148 thousand for Gujarat in 2012. All-India population of   female buffalo of under 1 year and in age group  1 to 3 years was 20155 thousand and 15858 thousand respectively as compared to 870 thousand and 952 thousand for Punjab and 1950 thousand and 1954 thousand for Gujarat  in 2012.  From the above statistics it is clear that a large number of female animals, whether these are crossbred or descript or nondescript animals, died before reaching the age of first calving.

14. Consider a herd of milch cows/buffalos that have100 lactating (in-milk) cows and buffaloes and 25 dry bovines. These bovines are kept under proper conditions of feeding and management. Good management practice covers- balance ration, better housing to protect animals from vagaries of weather, cooling of housing through fans and foggers during summer, regular deworming, vaccination against diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease, Haemorrhagic Septicaemia, Brucellosis etc as per prescribed time schedule, and other preventive healthcare, careful checking of ‘heat’ and availability of clean and wholesome water for 24 hours to all animals on time. A herd of 100 ‘In-milk’ cows/ buffaloes implies 100 calves were born during the previous year. Out of these 100 calves, around 50 are female calves. Out of these 50 female calves some may not reach the first calving stage due infertility, repeat breeder and calf mortality despite the best management practice. It is reasonable to assume that every year 15% of milch animals get permanently dried and leave the group of lactating animals. Therefore, it is fair to expect annual growth of 20 to 25% in the number of ‘In-Milk’ bovines under proper conditions of feeding and management. However, the reality is very different. It has been noted that during the inter-censal period (2007-2012) a CAGR of 5.9%, -0.7% and 0.52% was observed in the ‘In-Milk’, crossbred cows, indigenous cows and buffaloes respectively.

15. From the above, it is clear that there is need to take urgent corrective measures to reduce calf mortality and inter-calving period and speed up genetic up-gradation of non-descript cattle and buffaloes by using germplasm of pure indigenous animals and increasing average milk yield per ‘In-Milk’ cow/buffalo. This would require proper packages of feeding and management practices particularly careful checking of oestrus behavior ‘heat’.  Here it is relevant to point out that currently there is shortage of  veterinarians and para-veterinarians as well as both quantity and quality livestock feed in the country.

16. Livestock Feed comprises of (i) roughages (ii) concentrates including salt, medicine and other miscellaneous feed.  Roughages include cane trash, grass, green fodder, stalks, straw etc., while concentrates are made up of oil cakes, crushed pulses, grains, grams, rice bran, husk, oil seeds, gur etc. Three major sources of fodder supply are crop residues, cultivated fodder and fodder from common property resources like forests, permanent pastures and grazing land. There is low consumption of livestock feed as most of dairy farmers (85% of bovines are owned by landless, marginal and small land holding households) finds it expensive. Farmers would produce a fodder crop on a commercial scale if they have economic incentive in the form of assured market for their produce, which in turn provides basic condition for researchers to develop fodder crops. Fodder production can be increased by adopting strategies- • Using of quality seeds of high yielding varieties/hybrids of fodder crops • Following recommended agronomical practices of cultivation• Following suitable crop rotation • Selecting short duration fodder crops (sunflower/ mustard/turnip) during the switch-over season • Sowing legume as an inter-crop or as a mixed crop with a non-legume crop to enhance the nutritional value of fodder and improve soil fertility • Planting perennial grasses like hybrid Napier bajra/guinea grass in about 15 to 20 per cent of the cultivated area to get green fodder round the year • Planting fodder trees/shrubs on farm boundaries to get green fodder during the lean period • Harvesting fodder at the appropriate stage to get the maximum nutrients • Adopting modern practices for hay and silage making to ensure supply of fodder during scarcity and avoid wastage of surplus green fodder • Using chaff-cutter to minimize wastage of fodder

17. Successful story of first Animal Hostel Project at Akodara village, Sabarkantha district:  The Department of Animal Husbandry, State Government of Gujarat initiated first Animal Hostel Project in India. WAPCOS Limited (A Government of India undertaking), Gandhinagar have worked as their consultant in conducting a socio-economic and environmental feasibility study as well as in developing the prototype model of the project at Akodara village, Sabarkantha district. Village Milk Cooperative Society, which is a part of Sabarkantha District Milk Cooperative Union and Akodara Gram Panchayat are the key stake holders in development of the animal hostel. It is a good collaborative model with participation by various departments/agencies of Government of Gujarat, Panchayat Raj institutions and Milk Co-operative Societies i.e. Department of Animal Husbandry, District Rural Development Agency, Gujarat Land Development Corporation, Sabarkantha District Milk Co-operative union.

17.2 The animal hostel is a place where the cattle of the village are kept and maintained together and have all necessary infrastructure facilities to take care of them. The facilities in the hostel include in house fodder production in the nearby gaucher land, fodder storage, electricity generation through bio gas plants, vermin compost production, milk collection room, veterinary service centre and a water storage tank.  The animal hostel with a capacity of 900 animals has 34 cattle sheds. . Beneficiaries were to pay Rs.5000 per adult animal but due to donation by some philanthropists the management charged only Rs.3600 per animal as lifetime charges. All beneficiaries have to keep their allotted area neat and clean. The beneficiary members have to collect cow dung and dump it in to gobar gas plant unit. Dumped dung is weighed and recorded for each beneficiary who is then paid Rs. 0.30/kg.

17.3 An area adjoining the hostel (50 hac. of gauchar land - fodder plot) has been developed with support irrigation facility by three tube wells. The management is allotting this land to beneficiary members of the animal hostel by auction on an annual basis. It is seen that the animal hostel has got good returns from sale of fodder, produced under pasture development programme, and vermin compost, produced in the complex.

17.4 There are four Animal Hostels in operation in Gujarat. They are at (1) Akodara District-Sabarkantha, (2) Gangapar, District- Kutch, (3) Kuskal, District-Banaskantha and (4) Bhandotri, District- Banaskantha. Two more are in pipeline in Municipal Corporation of Ahmedabad and Rajkot.

17.5 Returns from the animal hostel project: When animals are kept for a period one year or more in the animal hostel, there is reduction in the calf mortality to below 5%, decrease in inter-calving period, increase in average yield of milk per day per ‘animal in milk’ by 15% in volume and an increase of average 1% fat in milk (Source State Animal Husbandry Department of Gujarat). In addition, the animal hostel project contributes towards reduction of green house gases due to prevention of methane emission into the atmosphere because of use of dung and urine in its gobar gas plant and slurry of the gobar gas unit being used for the vermin compost unit. Since the methane produced in the gobar gas plant is used for the purpose of generation of electricity, it in turn prevents emission of green house gases which otherwise would have entered into atmosphere from generation of the same amount of electricity from the nearby thermal power plant. Similarly, use of vermin compost reduces consumption of chemical fertilizers, it in turn prevents emission of green house gases which otherwise would have entered into atmosphere from production of the chemical fertilizers. Moreover, there is reduction drudgery of women folk in care of animals.

 

18. During a shorterm training proramme for bureaucrats, organised by IIM, Ahemdabad,  success stories of USA and other developed couutries like New York Police Department (Leadership & Organizational Transformation), Shackleton’s Epic Adventure (Leading in Turbulent Times),  Jan Carlzon at SAS (Leading Change) were discussed.  They and other premier Educational Institutions may also include Indian success stories like First Animal Hostel  Project at Akodara village, Sabarkantha district.          

19.  Dairy sector with its multiplier effect can work as a growth engine for economic growth.  Animal Hostel Project is a good collaborative model which includes integration of animal husbandry, pasture development, renewable energy and organic farming. It has shown that high returns could be obtained in the dairy sector with proper feed and management. It is a doable project and States can device a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for replicating this project in large number in their own States after studying the Akodra Project.

# The valuable contributions of Dr.A.J.Kachhia Patel, Director of Animal  Husbandry, Gujarat State, Gandhianagar and Dr Arvind Kumar Singh, Deputy Director, Directorate of Animal Husbandry, Uttar Pradesh are acknowledged.

UTILIZATION OF DECOMPOSABLE ORGANIC MATERIAL AND KITCHEN WASTE IN METRO CITIES

UTILIZATION OF DECOMPOSABLE ORGANIC MATERIAL AND KITCHEN WASTE IN METRO CITIES

India generates about 60 million tonnes of trash every year. Ten million tonnes of garbage is generated in just the metropolitan cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Kolkata. The landfills of most of these cities are already overflowing, with no space to accommodate fresh garbage waste.

There are many types of household wastes that are discarded by the residents. These includes: kitchen waste (food waste), plastic waste (plastic bags, plastic bottle, plastic containers, disposable Diapers, etc), electronic waste, packaging waste, medical waste, garden waste, etc. Plastic waste takes many decades to decompose. Cigarette Butts takes 10-12 years, Leather shoes - 25-40 years and Aluminium Can - 200-500 years to decompose. Awareness about safe disposal that include recycling different types of waste is, therefore, important. But what is really important is to devise mechanism for collection of different types of waste from the residential colony, hotels and hostels.  The food waste, decomposable organic material and kitchen waste can be used to produce the bio-gas, which is an alternative fuel for cooking gas (LPG). Also, the waste materials can be disposed off efficiently without any odor or flies and the digested slurry from the bio-gas unit can be used as organic manure in the garden. The collection of different waste in segregated form is essential for the safe disposal of waste.

Just keep your home insect free. If lizards do not find their prey, they will naturally leave the place. Similarly, if there is no litter, rivers will be automatically clean. When UP government can close illegal slaughter houses, all State Governments can also close polluting factories like Dyes & Intermediates, pesticides, tanneries, distilleries , sugar, etc without a functional waste water treatment plant till they install a waste water treatment plant. For this the government may provide long term soft loan to them. This step needs to be taken without any discrimination as any discrimination may hurt to their competitiveness in the domestic market. Similarly those Municipalities that are draining untreated sewer water into water bodies may be adequately fined so that they are forced to treat the sewer waste before draining water into the water bodies. The government must provide them necessary financial assistance for the treatment plant/bio-digesters.

Do we need an expert committee or an IIT Engineer to assess one, which is more cost effective: (a) cleaning of rivers or (b) collection of decomposable organic material, kitchen waste and electronic waste from households, hotels and hostels in metro cities? The decomposable organic material and kitchen waste be used as input for making bio gas and organic manure. Construction and plastic wastes may be recycled. Electronic waste may be disposed off as per prescribed procedures in order to minimise their adverse impact on environment. 
Second, as to whether intensive use of organic manure along with drip irrigation on the divider of busy roads & road side and in the parks for growing plants (including Jamun trees near High Ways) and grass can significantly reduce the Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter(RSPM), Suspended Particulate Matter(SPM) etc in the urban metros.  I ask my-self when this is simple why it has not been implemented  so far in any metropolitan city including the national capital and Mumbai which is the financial, commercial and entertainment capital of India. I get the following answer. This requires sincerity of both political and bureaucratic administration.  In more simple words this requires a standard operating procedure (SOP), sincere and hard work of team involving many government departments and there is hardly any scope of low fruit plucking for any corrupt officials.

Healthy Living Tips

You should try health tips, if suits your body continue it otherwise leave it. 

For example you can start your day:

•  by taking warm water one, with honey (http://www.amazon.in/PATANJALI-Patanjali-Honey-500g/dp/B01C8QI6TK/ref=lp_4860158031_1_4?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1487917119&sr=1-4) and nimbu/lemon juice, 
• second haldi and black pepper; 
• third pan wala chuna and 
• fourth, Ajwain (http://www.amazon.in/24-Mantra-Organic-Ajwain-100g/dp/B00HPW1CVM/ref=sr_1_1?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1487917173&sr=1-1&keywords=ajwain). 

I think it is always better to eat fresh fruits empty stomach and finish your last meals(dinner) at least one hour prior to sleeping.