By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun 19 Jan: Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister Saurabh Bahuguna addressed a press conference at BJP State Headquarters here, today, and briefed the media on the performance of the Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Departments. This press conference was organised as a part of the series of press conferences being organised by the BJP State Unit in which ministers have been asked to brief the media on the performance of the departments under their charge. It was the turn of Saurabh Bahuguna to address the media in this regard today.
Bahuguna claimed that, under the guidance of Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami, the government with the help of the private sector is making the youth skilled and providing employment on a large scale in the country and abroad. He also claimed that Uttarakhand is the fastest growing state in self-employment generation through many new schemes launched under animal husbandry, fisheries and dairy industry departments. Giving detailed information about the achievements of the Animal Husbandry Department, he claimed that Uttarakhand is the first state to make a policy for stray animals and is constructing cow shelters at the divisional level. For their fodder, the state has increased the budget and the subsidy. For cow shelters, the budget for each cow has been raised to Rs 80 per day, which he claimed is the highest in the country.
Bahuguna added that three new schemes have been started in the Animal Husbandry Department including the Goat Valley project, which he claimed is very successful in generating livelihood opportunities for farmers and the landless in the hills. He also added that project is going in all the 13 districts. He stated that, on the purchase of five goats, the department gives 11 goats in all. He also reminded that the Poultry Valley Scheme has also been launched in the state and is proving to be highly successful. The Cabinet Minister revealed that, so far, 1941 farmers have taken advantage of this scheme. Animal ambulances has also been launched by the Animal Husbandry Department. More than four thousand calls have been received and attended to, so far.
Bahuguna said that under the Kisan Credit Scheme, Rs 1.5 lakh are being given. So far in the state, 84,606 farmer credit cards have been made. Earlier there was no fund with the Animal Husbandry Department. But, now the funds are being provided under the Chief Minister Livestock Mission.
Bahuguna shared that under the Ganga Cow Scheme, now two cows or two buffaloes are also being given to each farmer. Earlier there was a provision of only cows under this scheme but the government has made changes at the demand of the farmers.
The Cabinet Minister claimed that Uttarakhand has become the first state that has given 50 percent subsidy on fodder. He also claimed that milk production in the state has increased by 25 percent in December. The government will soon install a big bio gas plant, for which cow dung will also be purchased from the farmers.
The minister claimed that the government has taken strict action against the employees engaged in irregularities and has recently taken action against some in the Milk Union involved in financial irregularities.
Bahuguna asserted that the government has taken many initiatives in the skill development department. The government is setting up Centres of Excellence in collaboration with the private sector to make ITI students more skilled in the state and for their placement. Earlier, youth who passed out from ITI used to get initial salary of Rs 8 to 10 thousand rupees. But due to the efforts of the government to provide training to companies in ITIs, they are getting around Rs 25 thousand as initial salaries. The minister said that an MOU has also been signed with the Tata group for training 3000 children over three years. The dress code has also been changed on the demand of ITI students. He claimed that the government is mulling providing free uniforms to ITI trainees. ITI trainees are also being sent abroad and, so far, 16 trainees have been sent to Japan.
The minister claimed that work is being done under many schemes in fisheries also. Chief Minister Matsya Sampada Yojana has been started. The government has laid emphasis on cluster farming. An Aqua Park is also going to be built in Sitarganj assembly constituency. Fishery owners will be charged at domestic rates for power consumed by them.
Giving information about the sugarcane department, he said the state is moving forward rapidly in the production of organic sugarcane in the hills, under which trials have been started from Pithoragarh and now this scheme will be taken forward in Chamoli also. In the traditional sugarcane sector, the sugarcane price of most of the farmers is paid during the crushing season itself. So far in 2022, Rs 470 crore has been provided to the farmers by the government. Besides, the government has also created a fund of Rs 25 crore for the modernisation of sugar mills.
BJP state media in-charge Manveer Chauhan, BJP leaders Rajendra Negi, Sanjeev Verma, state spokesperson Vinod Suyal, Vipin Kainthola were also present on the occasion.
