Mobile Veterinary Units | 23 Apr 2025

Why in News? 

The Rajasthan government has launched a special campaign to promote Mobile Veterinary Units (MVU) and the associated 1962-MVU chatbot service in Rajasthan 

Key Points 

  • About the Scheme: 
    • Under the Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) Scheme , medical facilities have been provided to more than 41 lakh animals in the state in the last one year. 
    • Chatbot number 9063475027 has been launched which is a WhatsApp based service and provides tele-consultancy facility. 
    • The scheme is being operated through Call Centre 1962 , which was started about six months ago. 
    • Call centre operating company BFIL , a subsidiary of IndusInd Bank, is funding the scheme under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). 
  • A publicity campaign for the scheme has been launched, which includes: 
    • Information will be given to 10 lakh livestock farmers via SMS. 
    • There will be digital wall branding at 180 locations. 
    • Audio publicity through e-rickshaw and tempo. 
    • 7 lakh pamphlets will be distributed. 
    • Signage will be installed in 100 veterinary hospitals. 
    • Key-chains, calendars and other promotional material will be distributed. 
  • Objective: 
    • Providing medical services to livestock owners at their homes. 
    • To make the MVU scheme accessible to more livestock farmers . 
    • To expand and strengthen access to and usage of the Service . 
    • Bringing transparency and efficiency in the animal husbandry sector through digital and AI technologies. 

 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)  

  • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) can generally be referred to as a corporate initiative to assess and take responsibility for a company's impact on the environment and social welfare. 
  • It is a self-regulating business model that helps a company become socially responsible. By practicing corporate social responsibility, companies can be mindful of the impact they have on economic, social, and environmental factors. 
  • India is the first country to make CSR spending mandatory under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 with a framework for identifying potential CSR activities. 
    • CSR is mandatory only for companies which are covered under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013, such as those having a net worth of Rs 500 crore or more, turnover of Rs 1,000 crore or more or net profit of Rs 5 crore or more. 
    • Unlike India, most countries have voluntary CSR frameworks. Norway and Sweden have adopted mandatory CSR provisions, but they started with a voluntary model.