White revolution in Tiruvannamalai

TIRUVANANNAMALAI: Beneficiaries of the free milch cow scheme in Tiruvannamalai district are at the forefront of the State government’s effort to create a second white revolution by improving milk production. The beneficiaries in the district have outperformed their counterparts in other parts of the State and are supplying over 2,700 litres of milk to the cooperative milk societies per day.Under the government’s free milch cow scheme, a total of 700 milch cows were distributed to 700 beneficiaries in 14 villages in the district for the year 2011-12, at a cost of `2,46,75,000 crore. Each milch cow is worth `35,250.It has helped the beneficiaries earn an additional income of `2,500 to `3,000 per month. “The cow given to me is giving 11 to 12 litres of milk per day. By supplying the milk to the milk society, we have been able to get an additional income of `2,100 per month apart from the money spent on cattle feed. This is helping us run the family smoothly,” said T  Kalaivani of Narmapallam village, one of the beneficiaries of the scheme.“The beneficiaries in the district have outperformed their counterparts in other districts in the State. They have been giving an average of 2,746 litres of milk per day to the cooperative milk societies. On an average, each beneficiary supplies 14 litres of milk per day,” said R Muniraj, deputy registrar of dairy, Tiruvannamalai.The department has been giving cattle feed to the beneficiaries and pays them `18 per litre of milk supplied. “There is no outstanding amount to be paid to beneficiaries as we are paying on time. We are also supplying cattle feed at a subsidised rate of `10.80 and educating the beneficiaries on how to improve milk production. In addition, we are monitoring the health of the animals once a week,” he added.District Collector Anshul Mishra said, “Beneficiaries of the free milch cows in  the  district stand first in milk production as per available statistics.”