LEH: Ladakh government’s project Reba is changing the life of around 1500 nomadic livestock rearers of the union territory, who lose their lives as well as significant number of livestock in winter every year.
These nomads rear around 2 lakhs sheeps and goats, and every winter brings bad news for them, but not anymore, tells Ravinder Kumar, Secretary, Animal and Sheep Husbandry department, UT Ladakh.
Ravinder, who is leading this project, spoke in detail about Reba, along with a number of other key initiatives, of Power Development Department, Cooperatives and Youth and Sports Department as the administrative head, in an exclusive conversation with Indus Dispatch.
“The Ladakh government is building around 300 nomadic huts, at the cost of Rs 13 lakhs per unit under Changthang Development Package. This is called project Reba. Around 200 such huts have already been handed over to the nomadic community, while 100 more are at different stages of construction,” informs Ravinder.
A total of 2 lacs sheep and goats are reared by these nomadic communities in the administrative block of Durbuk.
Indus Dispatch learnt that all border villages of Nyoma and Durbuk villages including Korzok, Hale, Chushul, Phobrang, Kargaim, Samad, and Kharnak, are immensely benefited from this project executed in the last two years which was implemented by the Directorate of Animal and Sheep Husbandry, and Fisheries and executed by Central Public Works Department.
These nomadic huts are puff-insulated and specially designed for mitigating extreme cold weather conditions.
The government has already provided mobility portable tents with accessories to nomads for summer. The prefabricated huts are specially meant for use by the nomads during their stay at winter migratory sites. Now, they no longer have to stay in tents during peak winter, which was a major challenge for them earlier, leading to loss of life as well as perising of livestock, Kumar tells.
