Pantnagar (The Hawk): The two days (30th & 31st August) “Vaccinators Training Program for Van Gujjar Community Members of US Nagar and Nainital” was jointly organized in College of Veterinary & Animal Science, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology Pantnagar by One Health Support Unit of the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD)-Government of India, Chaudhary Charan Singh National Institute of Animal Health (CCSNIAH)-Baghpat and Animal Husbandry Department, Uttarakhand under the One-Health pilot project of Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India. The Program was held as part of the pilot interventions of the One Health project in Uttarakhand and Karnataka states by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Government of India with the financial support of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as the implementing partner.
One-Health is a multi-sectoral approach that takes into consideration human, animal and environment health and the interconnectivity and interdependence of these three elements. Van Gujjars are the nomadic tribes of Uttarakhand, living in the fringe areas of the forest and usually migrate during the summer seasons and, therefore, have swift and sustained interaction between the forests and the civilization. The huge buffalo population of the Van Gujjar community usually is at a risk as a two-way carrier for the infectious (including zoonotic) diseases by living in close contact with the wild animals and the Van Gujjars. Addressing the awareness and requirement of Van Gujjar community for zoonotic diseases is important for achieving the ambitious goal of One Health in Uttarakhand. Therefore, to create awareness about vaccination and deworming and giving impetus for wider outreach to the State's vaccination drive; the training programmes for van Gujjar Community members of Nainital was organized on 30-08-2022 at College of veterinary Sciences, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar. A total of 28 Van Gujjar Community Members of Nainital district including Sri Ameer Hamja, Founder, Van Gujjar Tribal Yuva Sangathan attended the training programme. Prof. (Dr) N. S. Jadon, Dean, CVAS, GBPUA&T graced the functon as Chief Guest. The program was attended by Dr Ajit Singh Yadav, Director, CCSNIAH, Baghpat; Dr Vikas Gupta, Assistant Director, CCSNIAH; and Dr Nihar Nalini Mohanty, Assistant Director, CCSNIA&AH; Dr Bhupendra Jangpangi, CVO, Nainital, Dr Shiv Prasad, Professor VGO, GBPUA&T; Dr Rajeev Ranjan, Asst. Professor, GBPUA&T.