Imphal: The Directorate of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry has proposed increasing the annual incentive for Manipuri pony owners to Rs 10,000 per animal. The department also reported that 33 Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) have handled 7,205 cases since April 2026.
Director L. Arunkumar Singh announced the developments during a press briefing organised by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations at its auditorium.
He said department officials were implementing the newly launched Pony Registration System (PRS) to determine the exact pony population in Manipur. Department records indicate that the population has increased over the past year.
The conservation initiative receives Rs 30 lakh annually. Singh said the proposal to raise the incentive to Rs 10,000 followed the launch of the PRS. Last year, the Governor provided incentives to 1,150 pony owners.
The initiative is also linked to a regional branding framework coordinated with the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), under which Manipur has designated “Polo Heritage” as its unique selling proposition.
Singh said a joint proposal from the DoNER ministry and the Chief Minister to conserve the endangered indigenous Manipuri Pony had received formal approval. The initiative will focus on selective breeding based on genetic factors and the development of targeted infrastructure.
On veterinary services, Singh said the state’s MVUs provide assistance daily through the toll-free number 1962. Since April 1, 2026, the units have recorded 7,205 cases.
Field teams resolved 693 cases through telephone consultations and attended to 6,512 cases through visits.