Beyond Recognition: Why Pashu Sakhis Need Formal Support and Compensation

In the remote corners of rural India, where formal veterinary services are often miles away, Pashu Sakhis have emerged as unsung heroes. These trained women, often members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), provide critical animal health services, from vaccination to basic treatment and play a key role in enhancing livestock productivity. Their work not only supports household incomes but also strengthens the local livestock economy.

However, despite their increasing importance, Pashu Sakhis continue to operate in a grey zone—recognized informally by communities and NGOs but not formally supported or compensated by the system. It’s time this changed.

India has over 300 million livestock, with a significant proportion raised by small and marginal farmers. Yet, access to veterinary services is limited, especially in rural and tribal areas. This gap has been partially bridged by over 50,000 Pashu Sakhis across various states, trained under programs run by NGOs, NRLM and CSR initiatives.

These women:

• Last Mile Deliver doorstep first-aid veterinary services on time.

• Educate communities on deworming, disease prevention and nutrition.

• Facilitate livestock insurance and record-keeping.

• Support breed improvement and artificial insemination programs.

Yet, they are neither formally employed nor systematically remunerated, making their long-term sustainability a major concern.

Challenges Faced by Pashu Sakhis: Despite their growing impact, Pashu Sakhis face a number of challenges that stem from lack of formal support, such as:

• No Legal or Institutional Recognition: Most state veterinary departments do not officially recognize Pashu Sakhis, leaving them excluded from public veterinary extension systems and unentitled to any official benefits.

• Unpaid or Irregular Compensation: While some Pashu Sakhis earn from service fees or occasional incentives, many work with no assured income, relying on goodwill or token payments from communities.

• Insufficient Tools and Supplies: With limited access to medicines, vaccines and basic equipment, their effectiveness is hampered and their credibility often questioned.

• Lack of Career Progression: There is no clear growth path, accreditation system or link to higher training—keeping them stuck in voluntary roles despite years of field experience.

Why Formal Support and Compensation Are Essential

• For Service Quality and Consistency: Formal integration into the veterinary system will enable standardized training, quality control and supervisory mechanisms—ensuring that rural livestock owners receive reliable and safe care.

• For Retention and Motivation: A structured incentive or salary model will prevent high attrition, build motivation and allow Pashu Sakhis to focus on this role full-time, rather than treating it as an occasional side activity.

• For Gender Empowerment and Dignity of Work: Recognizing and compensating their contribution will not only ensure financial independence for rural women but also enhance their social status as skilled professionals, not mere volunteers.

• For Building a Resilient Rural Livestock Ecosystem: With zoonotic diseases on the rise and increasing climate stress on livestock, a strong cadre of frontline animal health workers is crucial—and Pashu Sakhis are ideally positioned to serve this role.

The Way Forward: Policy and Programmatic Solutions: To move beyond token recognition, governments and institutions must take concrete steps:

• Include Pashu Sakhis in state livestock missions and rural development plans.

• Provide honorarium-based or service-linked compensation through schemes like MGNREGA, NRLM or livestock insurance programs.

• Certify their training through formal skilling programs (NSDC, Skill India).

• Link them with veterinary hospitals for regular mentorship and supplies.

• Encourage convergence with digital livestock platforms for disease reporting and animal registry.

The contribution of Pashu Sakhis goes far beyond what meets the eye. They are not just caregivers—they are community educators, first responders and agents of change. It is both unjust and unwise to expect them to continue working without formal support or fair compensation.

India’s livestock economy depends on their grassroots energy. It’s time policies did too.

A Pashu Sakhi tends to her goats in a lush green field, highlighting the essential role of women in livestock care and the need for formal support and compensation.