Framing a policy, even an alternate policy is no easy matter. Ideally, it requires the consensus and participation of a large number of stakeholders. Further, for a livestock policy to be effective, it is equally important that policies governing water, forests, agriculture, land use, energy and environment are effective and in place. Contradictory policies will only defeat each other and negate the effects.

Features of an Alternative Policy

• Planning exercises need to be decentralized so that regional features get consideration. Panchayat raj institutions, Village committees, Forest Management committees, Watershed committees etc, are to be involved in the local level planning exercises.

• Representation of marginalised communities and women in planning exercises.

• Database Management Systems of natural resource to be used for local level planning and decision-making.

• Demand and supply studies need to be initiated at the local level to witness flow of resources within the region. This will further help planning and decision-making.

Capacity Building at Local Levels

For effective decision-making at the village level, the capacities of people here will have to be strengthened.

Local Indigenous Knowledge (I.K) systems to be validated in order that they may be used for capacity building. I.K systems in the fields of animal health, nutrition, management, breeding, housing, forest and grassland management need to be carefully documented, validated and used for training and enhancing the capacities of the local people.