Govt signs MoU with ITBP for supply of local products
By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 30 Oct: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Uttarakhand Government and ITBP at the Chief Minister’s official residence here today. Presenton the occasion were Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Animal Husbandry Minister Saurabh Bahuguna.
Under the Vibrant Village Scheme, the MoU for the supply of local products such as live goat/sheep, chicken, and fish for the ITBP battalions deployed in Uttarakhand was signed by Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Dr BVRC Purushottam on behalf of the Uttarakhand Government and IG Sanjay Gunjyal on behalf of ITBP. It may be recalled that Sanjay Gunjyal is a senior IPS officer of the Uttarakhand Cadre, currently serving with ITBP on central deputation.
Speaking on the occasion, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed confidence that this agreement would improve the livelihood of the people at the local level. They will feel that in some way or another, they are connected with the security of the country. This will also enhance the contact between the local people and the ITBP. He also stated that the people living in border areas are the sentinels of the country. The CM said that ITBP will work in the role of brand ambassador to promote the local products of the state. He directed the officials to ensure that the availability of local products of the state is adequate. He also mentioned that a plan should be made to arrange for the supply of vegetables, milk, cheese, and eggs to ITBP from the state.
Animal Husbandry Minister Saurabh Bahuguna observed that this important decision has been taken to increase the livelihood of animal husbandry and fish farmers. For this, he thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. He noted that this would also help in stopping migration from the hills, in particular.
It is estimated that the MoU will directly benefit more than 11,000 farmers engaged in animal husbandry through more than 80 cooperative societies of the state, which include 7,000 women. The officials of Animal Husbandry department claim that ten thousand farmers engaged in animal husbandry, mainly sheep and goat breeders, more than 800 poultry suppliers, and more than 500 fish farmers will benefit from this agreement. This is the first time in Uttarakhand that such a large number of sheep, goat, fish, and poultry farmers are being provided a committed market of this scale for sale of their products. An annual turnover of Rs 200 crore is expected from this, they add.
