Jammu: Stressing the need for giving a major push to rural economy, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday called for development of livestock and dairy sectors in the state.
Chairing the meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir Animal Welfare Board here this morning, she said livestock and dairy sectors have the potential for generation of employment and asked devising means to tap this major resource of the rural economy.
Mehbooba also directed dovetailing various schemes like RKVY and other national dairy development schemes to achieve the desired results. She suggested identification of villages, particularly in border areas, to be adopted as milk villages where facilities of treatment and welfare of livestock, besides market support, would be made available. This could be done on the lines of saffron village, apple village, basmati village schemes which would not only institutionalise the otherwise routine village activity but also creates job opportunities for the rural youth, the Chief Minister said.
Mehbooba also asked for linking these villages with cooperative units so that after their “successful operationalisation” these model villages can be replicated across the state.
She suggested that a portion of funds from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) of the legislators can be used on the initiative or one village in each constituency can be adopted by respective legislators so that these milk or livestock villages are developed in convergence mode in a short time and without any major financial hassle.
Mehbooba asked the departments concerned to work together to hammer out what needs to be done to address the issues of fodder, livestock health and marketing in these villages.
She also enquired about the status of construction of new abattoirs in Srinagar and Jammu and issued instructions for maintaining hygiene and cleanliness at these places. She was informed that Rs 28 crore ultra-modern abattoir in Srinagar and two modern abattoirs in Jammu have been approved by the Centre and work on these would start soon.