Veterinary Service Center in Kirtanpur of Madhi Municipality, Nepal: Model of Sustainable Program

Wildlife and Domestic Veterinary Program (WDVP) was implemented jointly by Chitwan National Park and National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) with the technical support of Zoological Society of London in Buffer Zone (BZ) of Chitwan National Park (CNP) from 1997 to 2001. Objective of the Program was to address veterinary needs of the CNP and those of its immediate neighbors. During the project period four Veterinary Service Centers (VSC) were established - one each in Bachhauliu, Amaltari, Jagatpur and Kirtanpur. The WDVP had provided the initial support of veterinary medicines, local technicians, basic infrastructure; including office buildings and motorcycles, and a float of money Rs.800000 to the local communities they served.

Being involved from the very beginning of the project designing phase, I visited Kirtanpur VSC of Madhi Municipality on 3^rd March 2017 after a decade. While visiting the VSC, at the first glance, I was highly impressed while seeing a cheerful face who was dealing with a client. He was the Technician Mr. Shiv Lal Acharya who has been in the VSC since when the Service Center was established in 2000. During the time when joined the VSC, he had 15 days basic training on Veterinary Service. The training was given by Park People Program of UNDP. During his 17 years tenure, Mr. Acharya underwent 15 months formal CTEVT training and attended many more orientation training, said Mr. Acharya. I asked him what would be his whereabouts if the VSC was not here. In response, Mr. Acharye said, he would have been in United Aram Emirate. Thanks to the VSC that had provided him on the job training and provided the work. These days he extends 24 hours clinical service to domestic livestock as well as wild animals.

The community managed VSC was handed over to local communities in the end of 2001. According to him, almost all necessary medicines and service facilities are available at the VSC. Moreover, laptop, photocopy machine, solar electricity back up, microscope, vaccine facilities are in existence in the VSC. The beneficiaries' can get medicines and livestock health check up services at subsidies rate. The service rate is made transparent by keeping it in displayed board at the office premises. To cater the increasing demand of the beneficiary communities and national park, the VSC Management Committee is planning to construct new building. The plan of constructing new building is included in Madhi Municipality's Annual Development Plan as well. There are three staff members including two technicians and one Accountant who draw salary from annual income of the VSC as well as regular grant support of the Buffer Zone Council. In this way, small support of VSC has grown a big now. 

As an impact of the VSC, due to having reliable veterinary service at the door step, local people are adopting stall feeding improved breed livestock and hence the free grazing local unproductive livestock breeds are decreased considerably. It has caused decreasing dependency of local people in the park for grazing and hence prevailing park people conflicts have minimized considerably, said a local. Realizing importance of the VSC, every year CNP through buffer zone provides Rs 50000 to Rs.100000 to the VSC. The yearly transaction of the VSC is about Rs.24,00, 000. The seed money increased from Rs. 8,00,000 to Rs. 12, 00,000.

Most projects in Nepal do not continue beyond project period. Unlike this, the WDVP with its small initial support, has been serving local communities smoothly even 16 years after the end of the project period. It has been found that the project’s objectives of encouraging a shift towards improved breeds of livestock, reducing grazing pressure on the Park, reducing park-people conflicts and improving the locals’ income has been achieved.

Thanks due to ZSL for providing seed money and establishing basic equipment and medicines while phasing out. Due to demand led support, the VSC has become self reliant. Moreover, it is recommended to undertake in depth impact study of the VSC and bring out the lesson learned.