Advocacy

Rajasthan’s livestock keepers are not well organized, and they do not speak with a unified voice. Despite the macro-economic significance of animal husbandry for the state, the needs of livestock keepers have been largely ignored by policy makers. The state does not have a grazing policy, and veterinary services consist of organizing camps and providing artificial insemination with exotic breeds – interventions that do not really correspond to the needs of poor livestock keepers, and especially pastoralists.

LPPS has been organizing livestock keepers to make their voice heard, especially with respect to their ancestral grazing rights in the Aravalli Hills.

On the global level, LPPS has contributed in several international forums to press for “Livestock Keepers' Rights” and enshrining the inalienable rights of pastoralists and other livestock keepers to their animal genetic resources.

Facilitated by LPPS, Raika leaders have participated in WTO preparatory meetings, in the foundation meeting of the World Association of Mobile Indigenous People (WAMIP), and the Terra Madre Meeting of the Slow Food Movement.