DC Wokha issues guidelines for reporting livestock deaths

DIMAPUR: The Deputy Commissioner of Wokha has issued a circular detailing new guidelines for reporting livestock deaths to claim relief under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
According to a DIPR report, the directive was issued following a communication from the Home Department, Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority and aims to streamline documentation and ensure timely relief measures for affected livestock owners.
According to the guidelines, livestock owners are required to report the death of animals due to disaster within 24 hours to the nearest Veterinary Centre or administrative authority. Once a report is received, the District Veterinary Officer or field staff must conduct spot verification and assess the situation within three days of the incident.
The circular further mandates that geo-tagged photographs of the entire carcass, taken by the owner, must be submitted to the concerned authority. Wherever possible, a post-mortem examination should be conducted by a qualified veterinarian to confirm the cause of death. Following verification, the District Veterinary Officer is tasked with issuing a death certificate certifying that the loss was disaster-related.
Chief Veterinary Officers have been directed to maintain proper records of disaster documentation and submit them to the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), with a copy endorsed to the Directorate for record-keeping.
The Deputy Commissioner emphasised strict adherence to these procedures, noting that accurate documentation is essential for effective planning and accountability. The guidelines are expected to improve transparency, ensure timely relief distribution and provide reliable data on livestock losses in the district.