Villagers upset with govt rates

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 19: The villagers in the bird flu affected areas seems to be dissatisfied with the rate fixed by the government for the chickens to be culled. They resisted the government officials when they tried starting the culling operations earlier in the day today.

According to the villagers, the market price of a full grown chicken (called Morga or Kashia Morga) is between Rs 120 and 150 but the government rate is a meagre Rs 50. “It is very difficult to pacify villagers when the culling team is paying Rs 50 for a full grown chicken to the villagers. The government rate Rs 20 for a chick is acceptable but the government should raise the current rates to avoid resistance,” said Mr Bishon Chowdhury, pradhan of Norhatta gram panchayat. The DM, Mr Sridhar Ghosh, listened to the villagers' demand and asked the staffs including panchayat officials to inform the villagers that the government would give them extra Rs 500 after a few months for rearing fresh poultry.

Quoting the animal resources development minister, Mr Anisur Rahaman, the district magistrate said that the government would give a package of Rs 1,500 for the rehabilitation of the affected people. Though the DM had issued an order to ban transportation of poultry in and out of the affected areas, it was found that more than 5,000 chicks were brought from outside to the abandoned poultry farms. It was reportedly done owing to the rates fixed by the government for the chickens that were to be culled. The government has declared Rs 20 for chickens less than 10 weeks old. It was found that in private poultry farms, especially broiler, the rate of a chick is Rs 7 but some people are asking for Rs 20 for each to earn at least Rs 13 extra per chicken. The administration made an announcement today that after the end of culling operation, villagers would be paid compensation during mopping which would start from tomorrow.

The district animal resources development department has adopted a novel culling method of dipping the heads of the chickens in dry ice (carbon dioxide). This method worked faster, according to the department officials.