IndusInd Bank Limited, Bharat Financial Inclusion Limited & Rajasthan Govt. launch 1962-MVU Rajasthan Chatbot and awareness drive to empower farmers
Jaipur, 22nd April 2025: IndusInd Bank Limited (IBL) and its subsidiary, Bharat Financial Inclusion Limited (BFIL), has partnered with the Department of Animal Husbandry, Government of Rajasthan, to announce the launch of 1962-MVU Rajasthan Chatbot along with a state-wide Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign under BFIL’s Bharat Sanjeevani Program. The partnership marks a significant step in strengthening the relationship between IBL, BFIL and the Government of Rajasthan, reinforcing their shared commitment to inclusive rural development, digital innovation, and community well-being.
The 1962-MVU Rajasthan Chatbot, a first-of-its-kind service in the animal husbandry sector, offers real-time support through free audio, video, and text-based teleconsultations in Hindi and English, eliminating the need for long-distance travel. It includes timely information on government schemes to livestock farmers. To access the service, farmers can simply send a ‘Hi’ to the WhatsApp number 9063475027, which initiates an interactive, option-based dialogue. Designed to provide real-time support on vaccinations, disease symptoms, feeding, and breeding, the chatbot aims to enhance livestock productivity, reduce veterinary costs, and improve timely access to qualified care, particularly in remote and underserved regions.
The IEC campaign will be conducted across 2,500 villages in 10 districts, creating awareness about the 1962 door-step veterinary services, especially the benefits of teleconsultation. The initiative will cover over 56.8 million livestock (as per the 20th Livestock Census, 2019) in 45,000+ villages across the state, further strengthening the reach of veterinary care through Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs). BFIL is leading the execution of the state-wide IEC Campaign, which includes outreach activities, capacity building workshops and farmer engagement across districts.
The Bharat Sanjeevani initiative aims to deliver critical veterinary care, artificial insemination, and animal husbandry support straight to the farmers’ doorsteps. The program stems from a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on March 15, 2024, under the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme, a flagship initiative of the Government of India. Set to reach thousands of livestock farmers across Rajasthan, the program aims to empower rural communities, enhance livestock health and boost agricultural productivity across the state. As part of the MoU, BFIL and IndusInd Bank helped operationalise a state-level veterinary call centre in Jaipur. The addition of the 1962-MVU chatbot complements this by enabling easy, on-demand access to veterinary care through digital channels.
The launch event of 1962-MVU Rajasthan Chatbot in Jaipur was graced by Shri Joraram Kumawat, Hon’ble Minister of State, Department of Animal Husbandry; Dr. Samit Sharma, I.A.S, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry; and Mr. J. Sridharan, Executive Vice Chairman, BFIL.
Speaking at the launch event, the Hon’ble Minister of State for the Department of Animal Husbandry, Shri. Joraram Kumawat, said, “This is a landmark initiative that will bring veterinary care to the farmers’ doorsteps. We are grateful to BFIL and IndusInd Bank for their ongoing support. With this chatbot, farmers no longer need to travel long distances for primary veterinary support, thereby saving time, money, and effort. This will significantly enhance livestock productivity and improve farmer incomes in Rajasthan.”
Following the launch, Shri. Joraram Kumawat personally experienced the chatbot’s video consultation feature, demonstrating its ease of use and real-time responsiveness.
Executive Vice Chairman, BFIL, Shri. J. Sridharan, said, “This initiative represents the future of rural healthcare delivery, where technology bridges the gap between expertise and accessibility. Through the 1962-MVU Chatbot service, we are enabling timely veterinary care and building a scalable model for digital inclusion in rural India. BFIL’s partnership with the Government of Rajasthan is a testament to our commitment in empowering rural communities. We believe that sustainable rural development begins with resilient livelihoods, and this is a powerful step in that direction.”
As a leading private sector bank committed to financial and social inclusion, IndusInd Bank is supporting the initiative through strategic funding in enabling the technological infrastructure required for deploying the chatbot service and ensuring seamless integration with on-ground veterinary support systems. As the implementing arm of the initiative under its Bharat Sanjeevani Program, BFIL is driving the development and deployment of the 1962-MVU Rajasthan chatbot, a digital tool designed to provide farmers with real-time access to veterinary assistance, service requests and educational content. BFIL also brings in technical expertise and operational resources to support the program.
The Department of Animal Husbandry ensures last-mile delivery of veterinary services. Through its MVUs, the department will coordinate on-ground response to service requests received via the chatbot, enabling faster and more efficient livestock care across the state.
With a strong public-private partnership model, the 1962-MVU Rajasthan initiative demonstrates how collaboration can accelerate digital inclusion and sustainable rural development.