Tamil Nadu Yadava Goat Rearers Association today sought permission for rearing sheep in the forest lands and Government poramboke lands, as was done in many other states.
Talking to newsmen K Kuruthalingam, state President of the Association, said since 2010 they were being harassed by the Officials despite the Government Order that they could graze the sheep freely in the forest lands for six months during the rainy season.
Britishers charged Rs.One per goat and allowed them to graze,and it was increased to Rs three during the M G Ramachandran period and subsequently reduced to Rs two. Even though they were prepared to pay the fee the officials were not allowing them,and delaying providing them licence.
"On the One hand the Government is giving free goat and on the otherhand the officials were also allowing them to graze the goat, he said.
The association which had Ten lakh members sought a welfare board for the members who were nomads moving from place to place with their sheep for goats.
Now the officials were trying to destroy the profession by preventing the sheep grazing in the forest areas during the rainy season.
They wanted the government to launch vaccination programme for sheep ahead of the summer,and also two shops for the sheep rearers in the Government's Uzhavar sandhai.
