To uplift the social and economic standard of scheduled caste families, the Punjab Government is all set to provide the financial assistance to the landless families for cattle farming. Giving details here today, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Minister, Punjab Balbir Sing Sidhu said that the Punjab government has already taken several initiatives to enhance the income of BPL families of the State under which animal husbandry department has released the amount of Rs 1.41 crore to provide financial aid to the SC landless families. He said that our aim is to involve the BPL families in animal husbandry practices and to encourage them to set up their small dairy farms.Divulging about the schemes, Animal Husbandry Minister said that one young female buffalo/Cow calf (upto 6 month of age) would be given to eligible beneficiary for rearing costing about Rs10,000. He said that state government has also introduced the scheme to provide a hand driven chaff cutter to the beneficiary so that cattle rearer can feed their milch animals.
He said that under this scheme each beneficiary will be given a good quality of hand driven chaff cutter at the cost of Rs.8000.He further said that to setting up goat rearing units, eligible family will be provided a unit of three goat kids at the cost of Rs 3333 per goat kid. A financial assistance of Rs 10000 will be given to eligible family and de-worming of the goat kid would be done free of cost by the Animal Husbandry Department. “Instructions have already been issued to the Deputy Directors of all the districts to deeply verify the each case of applicants so that only the needy and eligible applicants would get the benefits of schemes” he added.He also appealed the people to contact the Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry department to get more information about the criteria of schemes. He ensured that department will provide the technical and financial assistance to all eligible beneficiaries. Mr. Harkesh Chand Sharma, Political Secretary/ Animal Husbandry Minister was also present on this occasion.