On the occasion of the 78th Independence Day, Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini gave a significant benefit to the beneficiaries of Mukhyamantri Dugdh Utpadak Protsahan Yojana as he disbursed a subsidy of Rs. 15.59 crores to 35,000 Milk producers registered under this scheme for April, May, and June 2024. On this occasion, the Chief Minister also announced that the state government will bear the insurance premium of Milk Suppliers registered under this scheme.
While addressing milk producers from across the state at a program held at his residence, Sant Kabir Kutir, the Chief Minister said that the earlier, subsidies of Rs. 32.51 crores were provided for the year 2022-23 and Rs. 39.37 crores for the year 2023-24, shared Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
He said that the government has further expanded the scheme by increasing the incentive amount for Antyodaya families from Rs. 5 to Rs. 10 per liter for the year 2024-25. This amount will be additional to the price of milk provided by dairy unions. Therefore, a provision of Rs. 100 crores has been made for this fiscal year, said the Chief Minister.
He said that Haryana is world-renowned for its Murrah breed of buffaloes, and the Haryana breed of cows has its distinct identity. Efforts are being made to establish milk production in Haryana as an industry. As a result, Haryana ranks third in the country for per capita milk availability, with 1098 milliliters compared to the national average of 459 milliliters, he informed.
New Milk Plant being established in Rewari
The Chief Minister said that Haryana has a network of cooperative dairy societies. Currently, there are 3,300 cooperative dairy societies in the state for milk procurement. Additionally, there are 6 milk processing plants with a daily processing capacity of 9.45 lakh liters. A new milk plant is being established in village Bindawas, district Rewari, at a cost of Rs. 280 crores, with a daily processing capacity of 5 lakh liters, shared Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
The Chief Minister said that the cooperative movement has made significant contributions to the White Revolution in the country. The example of VITA in Haryana is evident, with VITA products being sold through around 300 distributors and various institutions, with booths spread across many locations providing employment to numerous youths, he shared.
High-Tech and Mini Dairy Schemes for Small Farmers and Rural Youth
Sh. Nayab Singh Saini mentioned that the government is running a High-Tech and Mini Dairy Scheme to help small farmers and rural youth start their own businesses. He said that the scheme aims to provide self-employment opportunities and increase milk production. Under this scheme, a 25 percent subsidy is given on the cost of animals for setting up a mini dairy with up to 10 milch animals. Scheduled Castes are provided with a 50 percent subsidy for setting up dairies with 2 or 3 animals. Additionally, a 50 percent grant is provided on the purchase price of indigenous breeds of 3 or 5 cows.
He further shared that to promote organic farming, the government has provisioned an annual grant of Rs. 30,000 per cow for farmers keeping indigenous cows. Interest subsidies are given for setting up high-tech dairies with 20 or more milch animals. Under this scheme, 13,480 dairies have been established during the current government’s term, shared the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister added that to meet the capital requirements for animal husbandry, the Pashudhan Kisan Credit Card Scheme is operational, providing loans of up to Rs. 1.60 lakhs without collateral security.
Facilities for Milk Producers
Sh. Nayab Singh Saini stated that a Scholarship scheme is being run for the children of milk producers in cooperative dairy societies. Under this scheme, students scoring more than 80 percent in 10th and 12th grades receive scholarships of Rs. 2,100 and Rs. 5,100, respectively. So far, Rs. 1.86 crores have been awarded to 5,140 children of dairy producers. Similarly, under the Kanyadaan Scheme, Rs. 1,100 is provided for the marriage of daughters of cooperative dairy producers. To date, Rs. 30 lakhs have been given for the marriage of 2,829 daughters.
He said that to make animal husbandry risk-free, the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Samoohik Pashudhan Bima Yojana, allowing insurance premiums for large animals ranging from Rs. 100 to Rs. 300 and for small animals Rs. 25. Insurance is provided free of cost for Scheduled Caste livestock owners. A total of 8.52 lakh animals have been insured under this scheme. Additionally, accident insurance for milk producers in cooperative societies is now Rs. 10 lakhs per person, increased from Rs. 5 lakhs. Payments of Rs. 4.1 crores have been made to 75 individuals under this scheme.
The Chief Minister assured that the government is committed to the conservation and development of indigenous cow breeds. Four bovine breeding and research centers are being established at a cost of Rs. 37 crores in districts Kaithal, Jhajjar, Karnal, and Mahendergarh.
Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Smt. Ashima Brar, Managing Director, Haryana Dairy Development Cooperative Federation, Sh. Rohit Yadav, Political Advisor to Chief Minister, Sh. Bharat Bhushan Bharti, former MLA, Sh. Pawan Saini, Milk producers, representatives, and members of dairy cooperative societies attended the program.