Nizamabad: To revive the rural economy by encouraging caste-based occupations, the Telangana state government has been distributing sheep and fish to beneficiaries. On similar lines, pig-rearers may get animals soon.

Pig-rearer cooperative societies were registered in several districts and are urging financial aid for members of the Erukala community which is traditionally involved in pig rearing.

The society members are demanding Rs 1.25 lakh per unit in financial aid for purchase and rearing of pigs in villages and towns. They also want 4 acres of land in each mandal and district headquarters for pig-rearing.

Animal husbandry department has already issued registrations to pig-rearers cooperative societies.

In Nizamabad district pig-rearer cooperative societies have been formed in Velpur, Mopal, Bheemgal, Makloor, Navipet, Armoor Nizamabad north and south mandals.

Dharpally, Morthad, Jak-ranpally, Bodhan and Dichpally mandals have sent proposals for new societies.

In Kamareddy district, Kamareddy, Tadwai, Macha-reddy mandals formed the pig rearer societies and Domakonda, Birkur, Mad-noor, Bhiknoor mandals moved proposals.

Municipalities and gram panchayats have prohibited rearing of pigs, depriving the members of Erukala community their traditional occupation.

This has led to unemployment; alternative employment opportunities failed to yield the desired results.

In this context, the TRS government initiatives to caste-based occupations have revived the hopes of Erukala community in the state.

Elders of Erukala community met animal husbandry minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav recently, requesting him to encourage pig rearing. They urged Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to consider their request to treat pig rearing on par with other caste-based occupations and submitted a memorandum with details of population and employment for the community.

Speaking to this newspaper, Telangana Erukala Hakkula Ikya Porata Sadhana Samiti state president Koneru Sai Kumar said that government should provide 80 percent subsidy on pigs on par with sheep in the state.

If the government allocate Budget for pigs, caste work will be revived and animals will be reared without any inconvenience to the people, he opined.