Bengaluru: In a devastating turn of events, families belonging to the Korama SC community are grappling with a profound crisis as their primary means of sustenance has been decimated. The community, residing in Ramanagara district, relied on rearing ‘Ankamali’—an endangered indigenous breed of pigs—for their livelihood. However, a recent outbreak of a fatal disease has caused the pigs to perish, leaving the community in turmoil.
Expressing his anguish, a 41-year-old resident from Channapatna village stated, “I have not witnessed such a catastrophe in my entire life. There isn’t even a piglet left for us to rear the pigs again.” He further emphasized that the dwindling pig population would inevitably affect the price of pork in the near future. Rearing pigs has been a longstanding traditional occupation for the community, making this crisis particularly devastating.
The community members, situated in Govindegowdana Doddi, Kodamballi, Byrapatna, and Brahmanipura in Channapatna taluk, previously collected leftover food from nearby hostels, hotels, and marriage halls to feed the pigs, which were housed in a shed. However, since the disease outbreak, not a single piglet has survived.
According to a community member, attempts were made to vaccinate the pigs, but there is an acute shortage of vaccines. Additionally, administering injections to the pigs has faced stigma, as some veterinarians refuse to perform the task. Even when injections are available, community members are often advised on dosage and instructed to administer the vaccine themselves.
The situation has been further exacerbated by restrictions imposed by local bodies, which prohibit leaving the pigs to graze in town areas. Consequently, the community has been compelled to rear the pigs within their residential sheds, which now lie empty. In light of these challenges, community members assert that the state government must provide compensation for their losses.
An anonymous official from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services acknowledged that there are approximately 7,000 Ankamali breed pigs, typically vaccinated against Classical Swine Fever. However, he stated that the department had not been made aware of any deaths among the pigs reared by the community. The official attributed this lack of knowledge to a potential lack of reporting, possibly stemming from ignorance.
Disputing the allegations, the official argued that they had indeed administered the injections, but veterinarians were apprehensive about potential injuries due to a lack of restraint. Moreover, the department currently faces a shortage of staff, with only 210 individuals working against the sanctioned strength of 479, which poses additional difficulties in caring for the pigs.
When questioned about the availability of compensation for the affected families, an official confirmed that no compensation would be provided for the deceased pigs. Furthermore, the Karnataka Sheep and Wool Development Corporation has been instructed to halt the acceptance of applications under the ‘Anugraha’ scheme, which grants compensation for sheep and goat deaths resulting from accidents. The state government did not include funding for this program in the 2023-24 budget, prompting the suspension of compensation grants.
The plight of the Korama SC community underscores the urgent need for support and assistance from the government and relevant authorities. Immediate action is required to address the disease outbreak, provide vaccines, and offer appropriate compensation to mitigate the devastating impact on the livelihoods of these families.