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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Bird-flu outbreak rattles Nandurbar

Around 2.40 lakh hens culled, Nine-lakh eggs destroyed Mumbai: For the third time in 20 years, Avian Influenza has hit Navapur, in Nandurbar district, with over 2.40 lakhs birds culled in the past few days as worried farmers await compensation and effective vaccines. In some areas, all the infected birds in big and small farms have been eliminated by specialist teams, as per World Health Organisation (WHO) and central government’s guidelines. This is the third time after 2006 and 2021...

Bird-flu outbreak rattles Nandurbar

Around 2.40 lakh hens culled, Nine-lakh eggs destroyed Mumbai: For the third time in 20 years, Avian Influenza has hit Navapur, in Nandurbar district, with over 2.40 lakhs birds culled in the past few days as worried farmers await compensation and effective vaccines. In some areas, all the infected birds in big and small farms have been eliminated by specialist teams, as per World Health Organisation (WHO) and central government’s guidelines. This is the third time after 2006 and 2021 that the town – which produces 10-lakh eggs daily – has come under the attack of Avian Influenza, commonly known as ‘bird flu’, said Navapur Poultry Association (NPA) President Arief Balesaria. “We rank the biggest in production of eggs by Layer Chicken after Pune and Baramati. There are other egg producing centres in the state. The Layer Chicken are among the best laying hens. But in the past fortnight or so, our production has come to a complete stop,” a concerned Balesaria told The Perfect Voice. The 10-lakh eggs are sent to markets in Mumbai, Nashik, Jalgaon and even Surat, which will now be fed by other smaller suppliers from Maharashtra or other states, he said. The outbreak in Navapur started mysteriously on April 12, when a local farmer discovered five dead chickens in his farm. Initially it was suspected to be heatstroke and a local Veterinary prescribed medicines, but by afternoon more than four dozen birds were snuffed out. By next morning, the farmer lost more than 300 chickens even as other alarmed farmers in a three-km vicinity reported similar tragedies as the birds simply dropped dead without apparent symptoms, said Balesaria. In Balesaria’s own Wasim Poultry Farm, the situation was ditto – five days after the first incident, he found 55 birds dead and by that evening, over 130 were no more, though the chickens were eating normally and not appearing sick. After the local authorities were informed, samples were collected from three of the worst-hit farms and tested at the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal. They tested positive for the dreaded ‘Avian Influenza’, shocking the poultry farmers in Navapur. Swift Action Nandurbar Collector Dr. Mittali Sethi swung into action and declared large parts of Navapur as an ‘infected and surveillance’, spread over nearly 10 kms radius, banned all sale of poultry, bird-feed, and other related materials for three months, and local police were deployed to enforce the restrictions. Meanwhile, by Monday, the infection figures zoomed up dramatically and till May 6, over 2.40 lakhs birds have been culled, nearly 9-lakh eggs destroyed plus 210 tonnes of bird feed disposed off, said Balesaria of the sudden calamity. State and district officials have expressed apprehensions that the toll could climb much higher and have enforced strict monitoring in Navapur and also other egg-producing centres in north Maharashtra region. Culling continues with the help of 18 officers daily while over 125 veterinarians and support staff have fanned out in the affected zone. His son and third-generation independent farmer Tausif B. is grappling with his first bird-flu calamity and is worried about the future with his entire stock of 6 lakh eggs, 62,000 birds and 72-tons of feed destroyed. “This time, my farm was not affected. But according to official protocols, my 30,000 chickens were culled and over 60,000 eggs destroyed. The government has banned us from restarting or restocking for at least three months, or till July 31, when the crisis is expected to be over. Presently, we are sitting idle and helpless as the losses pile up for all the 27 NPA member-farms,” rued Balesaria. Farmers cry for better vaccines As death stalks egg farms in Navapur, distressed farmers urged the Centre to urgently permit more effective vaccines to contain the spread of Avian Influenza, as existing measures are proving inadequate. The NPA leaders claimed that the currently approved vaccines target the relatively milder H9N2 strain, while farms in the region are being devastated by the far more lethal H5N1 virus. “The government has allowed vaccines for H9N2 strain. But the Layer chickens are hit by the deadlier H5N1 strain. Vaccines for H5N1 are already in use in several countries, including China, the United States and parts of Europe. Why are we being denied access to the same protection?” asked the NPA leaders. India currently does not allow use of H5N1 vaccines, citing various concerns and relies on the traditional culling, movement restrictions and biosecurity measures in such outbreaks, though NPA alleges that Indian vaccine manufacturers are creating obstacles for getting better vaccines.

‘CA’ — Two Letters, One Lifetime of Struggle: The Inspiring Story of Priyanka Jadhav

Bhiwandi: In a remarkable story of determination and grit, Priyanka Jijabai Suresh Jadhav, a differently-abled girl from Savad village in Bhiwandi taluka, has successfully cleared the Chartered Accountancy (CA) examination — a feat that has brought immense pride to her family, her village, and the entire taluka. Despite growing up in poverty, with her mother selling vegetables and her father working as a cleaner in a warehouse, Priyanka never allowed hardship or disability to stop her from achieving her lifelong dream of becoming a Chartered Accountant.


Despite financial hardships and your physical challenges, how did you manage to achieve your dream of becoming a Chartered Accountant?

Life was never easy — limited means, health issues, and financial struggles were part of every day. But I had decided that becoming a CA was not just my dream; it was my way of honoring my parents’ hard work. Many times my health made it difficult to study, but every time I thought of my parents and their sacrifices, I found the strength to continue. Consistency, discipline, and self-belief made it possible. Even in moments of failure, I reminded myself that this dream was mine — and theirs too.


Tell us about your parents’ role and the struggles they faced to support your education.

My parents are my biggest inspiration. My mother toils in the fields under the scorching sun, growing and selling vegetables to support our family. My father works in a warehouse doing cleaning work. My mother would wake up before dawn, take vegetables to the market, return to the fields, and still make sure I had food and time to study peacefully. Their sacrifices gave me strength. Every achievement of mine is because of their relentless support.


What was the biggest challenge during your journey, and how did you overcome it?

The biggest challenge was maintaining faith in myself. Being differently-abled, people often looked at me with pity or doubt. Society constantly compared me with others. But I kept telling myself — you are not weak, you can achieve your dreams. Whenever my results were not as expected, or my body didn’t cooperate, I chose not to give up. I turned every failure into a learning experience. I truly believe —when your mind is strong, no challenge is too big.


What message would you like to give to girls from rural and modest backgrounds?

Never let your background define your future. Your village may be small, but your dreams should be big. Success depends on your effort, not your circumstances. Education is your greatest power — no one can take it away from you. Believe in yourself and never fear failure; it is only a stepping stone to success.


What are your future goals? Do you plan to contribute to society or your village?

My next goal is to use my knowledge to give back to society. I want to organize career guidance workshops for rural and differently-abled students, to show them that limits exist only in the mind, not in life. I want them to believe that they too can achieve whatever they dream of.


How does it feel to finally call yourself ‘CA Priyanka Jadhav’?

It’s an emotional moment beyond words. Those two letters — ‘CA’ — hold years of struggle, tears, failures, and my parents’ sacrifices. It’s not just a title, it’s the realization of a dream we nurtured together as a family.


What message would you give to other differently-abled students?

Your body may have limitations, but your mind does not. Keep faith in yourself. Move forward a little every day. Even when you fail, don’t stop. Success is born from struggle. Believe that you can — because you truly can.


Priyanka’s inspiring journey proves that determination and perseverance can overcome even the harshest challenges. From a humble vegetable-selling family in a small village to earning one of the toughest professional qualifications in the country, CA Priyanka Jadhav stands as a beacon of hope for countless students fighting against odds to fulfill their dreams.

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