Himalayan yaks set to be insured

National Research Centre on Yak (NRCY) at Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh has partnered with National Insurance Company Ltd. to insure high-altitude yak.

What are the concerns?

High-altitude yaks are feeling the climate change heat in Himalayan belt. Climate change and inexplicable changes in weather pattern have been reported from yak rearing areas across India. As a result, countrywide population yak has been decreasing at an alarming rate. In 2019, about 500 yaks died in single spell of heavy rainfall in northern Sikkim. That caused a heavy financial burden on owners. As per a report, number of yaks in India has declined by 24.7% between 2012 and 2019.

How Insurance policy will help?

• Insurance policy will shield yak owners against risks posed by weather calamities, in-transit mishaps, diseases, riots, surgical operations and strikes. Thus, this policy will provide financial security to Yak rearing communities in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh.
• Under the insurance policy, owners will have to get their yaks ear-tagged and provide proper description to get their animals insured.
• Owners will require to submit completed claim form, death certificate from veterinary practitioner, post-mortem report and ear tag in order to get the claim.
• There will be a 15-day waiting period to claim this amount. Thus, death of an animal due to any disease within 15 days from commencement of risk is not payable.

Yak population in India

Total yak population in India is 58,000. Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir have 26,000 Yaks, followed by 24,000 in Arunachal Pradesh, 5,000 in Sikkim and 2,000 in Himachal Pradesh. Some 1,000 Yaks are there in West Bengal and Uttarakhand.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2021