Mussoorie, June 8 -- After the successful implementation in Kedarnath, the animal husbandry department in Uttarkashi is planning to equip over 3,000 horses and mules operating on the Yamunotri trekking route with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips with an aim to streamline themanagement and operation of these animals, enhancepilgrim safety, and curbmalpractices. Dr Neeraj Singhal, director animal husbandry department, said, "The RFID chips have been installed on over 8,000 mules and horses registered so far and considering the success of the process, we plan to install these chips in horses and mules in Yamunotri." A proposal has been sent to the government, and we are awaiting the budget as this will greatly assist in the management and operation of horses and mules and also curb any malpractices, added Dr Singhal. Currently, the tracking and identification of these animals and their owners are done manually, leading to issues such as unlicensed operations, lack of health checks, and misconduct by handlers. The computerised RFID chips injected in the animals will allow easy identification of animals and their owners, tracking their movement and location, and ensuring adherence to health regulations, said the officials. The arduous treks to both Kedarnath (16 km) and Yamunotri (6 km) rely heavily on horses and mules to assist pilgrims. However, there have been frequent complaints regarding unlicensed operators, animals operating without health examinations, and disrespectful behaviour from handlers towards pilgrims. The RFID chip system in Kedarnath proved effective in addressing these issues by providing immediate information about the animal's health, its owner, and the operator, leading to a significant reduction in complaints, said Dr Neeraj Singhal. The animal husbandry department anticipates that the chips will be installed before the second phase of the Char Dham Yatra, scheduled for September-October, and this will enable strict enforcement of the rule limiting the operation of a maximum of 1,000 horses and mules at a time. Furthermore, it will facilitate the easy identification and action against handlers who engage in abusive behaviour towards pilgrims or cruelty towards animals. The key benefits of the Radio Frequency Identification chip system include easy detection of horses and mules operating without health examinations and registration and enhanced accountability of owners and operators. It will also help in curbing the false insurance claims that are made by the operators for the mules and horses deceased during operations, said the officials. This move is expected to bring greater transparency and control to the horse and mule operations on the Yamunotri route, ensuring a safer and more organised pilgrimage experience for devotees...