Union Minister Purushottam Rupala will on Saturday chair a meeting of Maldhari (Traditional Shepherds) for conservation of Halri donkeys, whose breed is rapidly declining in the country, at Upleta in Rajkot district.
Rupala, the Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, will participate in Chhathathi – a ritual of naming a newborn on the sixth day after birth – the calves being recently given birth by Halari donkeys being raised in Halara. It includes parts of Rajkot, Jamnagar, Devbhoomi Dwarka and Porbandar districts.
Sahjivan, a Bhuj-based organization that organizes the event in collaboration with the central and state governments, said the minister would apply tilak and garland him.
After the program, Rupala, a resident of Amreli district of Saurashtra region of Gujarat, will address a gathering of Maldhari people of Rajkot, Jamnagar, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Porbandar, Junagadh, Surendranagar and Kutch districts.
A cattle fair will also be organized which will showcase the best of Halari donkeys, Kahmi and Bhagri goats. Various milk based products will also be displayed in the fair.
Rituja Mitra, Regional Director, Symbiosis, said in a press release, “The program will help in maintaining and protecting the Maldhari belief system along with preparing a roadmap for the recovery and conservation of Halari donkeys on the verge of extinction. This will help in making the livelihood sustainable.”