7 hrs ago
Probe Ordered Into Alleged Andhra Pradesh Livestock Scheme Irregularities
Andhra Pradesh has a program to help farmers start sheep and goat businesses.
Each planned unit costs ₹1 crore, with money coming from a government subsidy, a bank loan and the farmer.
Officials say some units may have stopped working after receiving the subsidy.
There are also allegations that some applicants and officials worked together without setting up full units.
Some applicants say officials rejected their applications for reasons including education requirements and recommendations from MPs.
The Animal Husbandry department has ordered inspections across the state.
Officials say they will decide what action to take after checking the units and reviewing replies to notices.
The state has reportedly asked the Centre to pause decisions on applications that are still pending.
Andhra Pradesh’s Animal Husbandry department ordered field inspections in every district over alleged irregularities in the National Livestock Mission scheme.
For 2025–26, each proposed unit was to include 500 sheep and 25 rams and cost ₹1 crore.
The funding plan includes a ₹50 lakh central subsidy, a ₹40 lakh bank loan and a ₹10 lakh beneficiary contribution.
Projects worth about ₹196 crore were taken up across the state, including ₹92.35 crore in central subsidies; some units reportedly stopped operating after subsidy payments.
Notices were issued to 30 units, while the state has reportedly asked the Centre to hold pending applications until the allegations are examined.
- Who
- Andhra Pradesh’s Animal Husbandry department, scheme beneficiaries and applicants.
- What
- A state-wide field investigation has been ordered into alleged irregularities in sheep and goat units funded under the National Livestock Mission.
- Where
- Across Andhra Pradesh, including districts such as Sri Sathya Sai, Palnadu, Nandyal and Kadapa.
- When
- The scheme details cited are for 2025–26; the investigation was ordered after allegations surfaced.
- Why
- Some units reportedly stopped functioning after subsidy payments, and there are allegations that units were not fully formed.
Applicants’ allegations
Officials’ response
How units and applications were handled
Applicants’ allegations
Some applicants allege officials rejected applications over educational qualifications and said recommendations from MPs were needed for approval. Other allegations say beneficiaries and officials colluded to obtain subsidies without fully forming units.
Officials’ response
Officials say the actual status of units must be established through field inspections. The department has ordered an inquiry and says action will depend on the findings and replies to notices.
Key facts
- Scheme
- National Livestock Mission sheep and goat units
- Planned unit
- 500 sheep and 25 rams
- Cost per unit
- ₹1 crore
- Funding
- ₹50 lakh non-repayable central subsidy, ₹40 lakh bank loan and ₹10 lakh beneficiary contribution
- Projects taken up
- About ₹196 crore statewide, including ₹92.35 crore in central subsidy
- Notices
- Notices issued to 30 units
- Pending applications
- Hundreds were reportedly pending; the state reportedly asked the Centre not to approve them until the allegations are examined
Quotes
Dr. R. Amarendra Kumar
Animal Husbandry department director
“Action will be taken against those responsible based on the inquiry reports.”
deccanchronicle.com
“We will know the actual situation after visiting the units.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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