Cooperative Dairying to Transform Rural Economy: HM Amit Shah
Union Home Minister outlines cooperative dairy expansion, livestock welfare and technology-driven criminal justice reforms in Madhya Pradesh
- Amit Shah stresses cooperative dairying for higher farmer incomes.
- White Revolution 2.0 targets 75,000 new cooperative dairies.
- Ujjain to get a ₹255-crore milk processing plant.
- New criminal laws exhibition inaugurated in Bhopal.
GG News Bureau
Bhopal, 3rd Oct: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Saturday addressed a Gaupalak Sammelan in Bhopal, highlighting the role of cooperative dairies in boosting livestock rearers’ incomes, empowering women and strengthening the rural economy. He also inaugurated a state-level exhibition showcasing the implementation of India’s new criminal laws in Madhya Pradesh.
Shah said the new criminal justice framework is aimed at delivering justice rather than focusing solely on punishment. He highlighted the use of electronic evidence, online summons, virtual hearings, video conferencing and forensic science, along with provisions dealing with crimes against women, missing children, terrorism and mob lynching.
On the dairy sector, Shah said the government is working to expand cooperative networks so that livestock rearers can receive better returns through milk processing and value addition. He said Madhya Pradesh has set an ambitious target of increasing daily milk procurement from 12 lakh kg to 52 lakh kg.
India’s milk production has risen from about 14.60 crore tonnes in 2014-15 to around 24.80 crore tonnes, while per capita milk availability has increased from about 307 grams to 485 grams per day, according to figures cited by Shah.
Under White Revolution 2.0, the government has set a target of establishing 75,000 new cooperative dairies and strengthening 46,000 existing dairies. Madhya Pradesh is expected to receive a substantial share of the expansion.
Shah also highlighted initiatives involving breed improvement, vaccination, artificial insemination, sex-sorted semen, fodder management and indigenous cattle breeds. He said the Madhya Pradesh government has given in-principle approval for 50 acres of land for cattle and buffalo breed-improvement programmes.
Emphasising the potential of a dung-based economy, Shah said technology-driven models are being developed for scientific dung collection, methane reduction, clean-energy generation, nutrient recycling and rural employment.
He also underlined the role of women in dairy cooperatives, saying cooperative dairying can link women’s income directly with rural economic development and family prosperity.
During the programme, Shah digitally laid the foundation stone for a 3 lakh litres per day milk processing plant in Ujjain, to be built at a cost of ₹255 crore. A 40,000-litre-per-day Product Dairy Plant and a state-level central laboratory in Bhopal were also inaugurated, along with strengthening works at the Mini Dairy Plant in Shivpuri.
Bonuses were distributed to livestock rearers associated with the Bhopal and Indore Milk Unions, while financial assistance was extended to Gaushalas. Members of dairy cooperatives and women livestock rearers, including ‘Gaupalak Didis’, were also felicitated.
