RTI for Madhya Pradesh Animal Husbandry: Malvi Cattle, Livestock Vaccination & Dairy Schemes

Madhya Pradesh is one of India's largest livestock-keeping states, with a cattle and buffalo population spread across its 55 districts — from the Malwa plateau's prosperous dairy zones around Ujjain, Dewas, and Sehore, to the tribal heartlands of Dindori, Mandla, and Jhabua where goat and sheep rearing provide critical income to Adivasi families. At the centre of MP's livestock heritage is the Malvi cattle breed — a GI-tagged indigenous breed native to the Malwa-Nimar region, celebrated for its draught power and heat tolerance — and a growing cooperative dairy sector anchored by MPCDF (Madhya Pradesh Cooperative Dairy Federation) and its Sanchi brand. The Right to Information Act, 2005 gives farmers, tribal communities, researchers, and civil society organisations a legally enforceable right to access the records of the Pashupalan evam Dairy Vibhag (Animal Husbandry and Dairy Department) and the Directorate of Veterinary Services — to verify whether livestock insurance claims were settled, vaccine doses actually reached remote villages, breed conservation subsidies were paid to the right farmers, and whether tribal communities in Jhabua and Mandla received their entitled priority under livestock distribution schemes.

What Information Can You Seek?

The Animal Husbandry Department and Directorate of Veterinary Services in MP hold a wide range of records that citizens can access through RTI:

Malvi and Native Breed Conservation: MP is home to several important indigenous breeds — the Malvi (also spelled Malwi), native to the Malwa plateau centred on Ujjain, Dewas, and Sehore; the Nimari from the Nimar valley (Khargone, Khandwa, Barwani); and the Kankrej in the western districts bordering Rajasthan and Gujarat. The Malvi breed received its Geographical Indication (GI) tag, recognising its origin in the Malwa and Nimar agro-climatic zone. RTI can obtain records of government breeding farms maintaining Malvi bulls, the number of semen doses produced from registered Malvi sires, artificial insemination coverage using native breed semen, and incentives or subsidies paid to farmers who register and maintain native breed animals under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission or state conservation programmes.

FMD and Disease Vaccination Coverage: The national FMD Control Programme (FMD-CP) organises biannual vaccination drives — in April–May and October–November — targeting all cattle and buffaloes. RTI can reveal district-wise and block-wise vaccination coverage (target vs. achieved), vaccine batch numbers and expiry dates, cold chain maintenance records at district veterinary stores, and the action-taken reports for any unvaccinated pockets. Similar records exist for PPR (Peste des Petits Ruminants) vaccination for goats and sheep, and Brucellosis control in cattle. Livestock markets at Jabalpur and Katni — among MP's most active cattle trading points — are high-risk FMD transmission zones; RTI on vaccine coverage and outbreak records in these market corridors is particularly important.

Mukhyamantri Pashudhan Bima Yojana (MPBY) — Livestock Insurance: MP's state livestock insurance scheme provides coverage for cattle, buffaloes, goats, sheep, and pigs against death due to disease, accident, or natural calamity. RTI can obtain block-wise and district-wise beneficiary lists, number of animals insured by species, premium amounts collected, government subsidy on premium, claims filed, claims settled, compensation amounts disbursed, and — critically — reasons for rejection of insurance claims. For tribal farmers in Dindori, Mandla, and Jhabua who lose their animals to floods or disease, the claim settlement record is a key accountability document. This state scheme is separate from the Central Government's component under the PM Pashudhan Bima / National Livestock Mission — Central scheme records require RTI to the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Government of India, with Second Appeal to the CIC; MPBY records are state records with Second Appeal to MPSIC.

Goat and Sheep Distribution Schemes: MP implements state-funded goat rearing and sheep rearing schemes, particularly targeting SC/ST beneficiaries in tribal districts. RTI can provide beneficiary lists by block and village, the number and breed of animals distributed, subsidy amount per beneficiary, the vendor who supplied the animals, and follow-up mortality or survival data where recorded.

Artificial Insemination and Pashudhan Sahayak Network: The department deploys Pashudhan Sahayaks (livestock development assistants) at the sub-block level as the frontline of AI services. RTI can reveal the number of Pashudhan Sahayaks deployed versus sanctioned in each block, the number of AI cases performed per quarter, cost of AI to the farmer, and the government subsidy component.

Sanchi Dairy and MPCDF: The MP Cooperative Dairy Federation (MPCDF), which markets milk and milk products under the Sanchi brand, is the state's primary cooperative dairy institution. MPCDF's network of village-level dairy cooperative societies connects farmers — particularly in the Malwa plateau and Vindhya belt — to organised milk markets. RTI can access milk procurement price records, number of member cooperative societies, daily milk procurement volumes, and records of any inquiry or action against cooperative societies for payment irregularities. For MPCDF records, file RTI with MPCDF's own CPIO; Second Appeal goes to MPSIC, not the CIC.

Livestock Compensation for Natural Calamities: When floods (common in Chambal valley and Narmada basin) or droughts cause livestock deaths, the state provides compensation to affected farmers. RTI can obtain the compensation rate per animal species, district-wise and block-wise beneficiary lists, total amounts disbursed, and any pendency in compensation payment.

How to File RTI

Step 1 — Identify the correct CPIO. For state-level policy records, native breed conservation data, or consolidated MP-wide data, file with the State Public Information Officer, Directorate of Veterinary Services, Bhopal. For district-level records — vaccination coverage, livestock insurance claims, AI data, goat distribution beneficiaries — file with the CPIO, Deputy Director of Veterinary Services or District Livestock Development Officer (DLDO) of the relevant district. For MPCDF dairy records, file with the CPIO, MP Cooperative Dairy Federation (MPCDF), Bhopal.

Step 2 — Draft a precise application. Use the sample questions above as a template. Specify the district, block or tehsil, scheme name, and the relevant year or financial year. For insurance claims, include your policy number, animal ear-tag or identification number, and claim number. For vaccination records, specify the FMD-CP round number or month and year of the drive.

Step 3 — File online or by post. File online at rtionline.gov.in and pay ₹10 via net banking or UPI. BPL cardholders may claim fee exemption by uploading a copy of the BPL card. Alternatively, send the application by registered post or speed post with a crossed Indian Postal Order (IPO) for ₹10 in favour of the Accounts Officer of the relevant office. Retain all receipts and a copy of the complete application.

Step 4 — Track your application. Note the acknowledgement number. You should receive a response within 30 days. If not, file a First Appeal immediately.

Key RTI Act Provisions

The Pashupalan evam Dairy Vibhag, Directorate of Veterinary Services, all District Livestock Development Offices, and MPCDF are public authorities under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005.

• Section 6: Governs filing of RTI applications; no reason needs to be stated.
• Section 7(1): CPIO must respond within 30 days of receipt.
• Section 7(1) proviso: Response time is 48 hours where information concerns the life or liberty of a person.
• Section 20: The State Information Commission can impose a penalty of ₹250 per day (up to ₹25,000) on the defaulting CPIO for unjustified delay or refusal.

First Appeal

If the CPIO does not respond within 30 days, or the response is incomplete or unsatisfactory, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act. The appeal must be addressed to the First Appellate Authority (FAA) — typically the Joint Director of Veterinary Services in the same department. File the First Appeal within 30 days of the date of the CPIO's decision or the expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. No fee is payable for a First Appeal. Attach a copy of your original application and the CPIO's response (if any), and state precisely which information was not provided or was inadequately provided.

Second Appeal

If the First Appellate Authority also fails to respond adequately, file a Second Appeal under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act with the Madhya Pradesh State Information Commission (MPSIC) in Bhopal. MPSIC is the supreme appellate authority constituted under Section 15 of the RTI Act for all MP state public authorities — including the Directorate of Veterinary Services, all District Livestock Development Offices, and MPCDF. The Second Appeal must be filed within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the expiry of the FAA's response period. MPSIC can direct disclosure of information, impose financial penalties on the defaulting CPIO, and recommend disciplinary action.

Important: Do NOT file the Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC). The CIC has jurisdiction only over Central Government bodies. The MP Animal Husbandry Department and MPCDF are state bodies — second appeal goes exclusively to MPSIC. The only exception: for records held by the Central Government's Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) regarding centrally administered components of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, National Livestock Mission, or PM Pashudhan Bima, file with DAHD's CPIO and appeal to the CIC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which office handles RTI for MP Animal Husbandry Department? The State Public Information Officer at the Directorate of Veterinary Services in Bhopal handles state-level RTI. For district-level matters, file with the Deputy Director of Veterinary Services or District Livestock Development Officer of the respective district.

Can RTI reveal details about Mukhyamantri Pashudhan Bima Yojana? Yes. RTI can reveal block-wise beneficiary lists, number of animals insured, premium amounts, claims filed and settled, amounts disbursed, and reasons for rejection of livestock insurance claims.

How can RTI help with Malvi cattle breed conservation enquiries? RTI can provide details of government cattle conservation farms, number of Malvi bulls preserved, semen doses produced, subsidy given to farmers maintaining registered native breed animals, and breed registration records.

What is the first appeal process for MP Animal Husbandry RTI? If no reply is received within 30 days, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day period with the First Appellate Authority (Joint Director of Veterinary Services) in the same department.

Where do I file a second appeal for MP Animal Husbandry RTI? Second appeals under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act go to the Madhya Pradesh State Information Commission (MPSIC) in Bhopal, not the Central Information Commission.

Can RTI help tribal farmers in MP get livestock scheme information? Yes. RTI is particularly useful for tribal communities in Dindori, Mandla, and Jhabua to verify whether they received priority under ST-reserved livestock distribution schemes, and to check actual vs. promised animal quality and subsidy amounts.