Shimla, August 09: Grappling with the problem of monkeys and other wild animals destroying crops in a big way, the Himachal Pradesh government has requested the Centre to include the appointment of animal chasers under its flagship NREGA scheme.
“A request has been sent to the Union Rural Development ministry recently for inclusion of daily wagers ‘rakha’ (one who drives away animals) to protect the crops from monkeys and other wild animals,” state Rural Development and Panchayati Raj secretary Srikant Baldi told PTI.
It has asked the Centre to consider appointment of rakhas on the lines of ‘chowkidars’ (guards) in panchayats.
State Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Jairam Thakur said damage to crops from monkeys and other wild animals in the villages was a big problem and the department has asked its Forest and Horticulture counterparts to work jointly.
–PTI