Odisha’s livestock sector, a key source of livelihood for many rural and landless families, is reeling under a severe shortage of animal aid centres and livestock inspectors. With more than 40% of posts lying vacant, many centres are either non-functional or overstretched, leaving farmers without timely veterinary care.

The state has 3,239 animal aid centres across 6,798 panchayats, in addition to 91 centres in government farms and other facilities.

In total, 3,330 centres are operating, but only 1,928 livestock inspectors are currently in service. Another 91 inspectors are posted in farms and related facilities.

This leaves 1,402 positions vacant, meaning around 42 per cent of centres do not have inspectors, according to Lalitendu Dalei, state secretary of the All-India Livestock Inspe

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