Omkar Dattatray
North Kashmir district of Baramulla, which was some years back infamous for terrorism, insurgency and violence has turned today into peace, normalcy and has become a hub of economic activity and this positive change and development is spectacular and worthy of emulation by other districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
The people of Baramulla are enterprising ,dashing and industrious and they have excelled in many sectors .They have made name in farming and now they have brought white revolution through dairy farming and thus have become famous in the country .Recently in the historical 100th episode of his Mann Ki Baat radio telecast Prime Minister has mentioned Baramulla and its dairying and white revolution and the hard work of the people there.
He said Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir is turning into symbol of new white revolution and this is no ordinary development and the enterprising youth of Baramulla deserve all praise and pat at their back for this achievement of self sufficiency and trade in milk and milk ptoducts.
Prime Minister cited the example of the people of Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir for starting dairy farming.
There was a shortage of milk for a long time in the district.
Modi said people of Baramulla took this challenge as an opportunity. He mentioned Ishrat Nabi who started Mir sister Dairy Farm. About 150 liters of milk is being sold every day from their dairy farm.
Prime minister also mentioned Wasim Anayat from Sopore. Wasim has more than two dozen animals and he sells more than two hundred liters of milk every day. Modi also made note of dairy farming done by Abid Hussain whose work is also progressing a lot. Modi said 5.5lakh liters of milk is being produced daily in Baramulla due to the hard work of the people .He said entire Baramulla is turning into symbol of a new white revolution.
During the last two and a half – three years, more than 500 dairy units have come up there. The prime minister said the dairy industry of Baramulla is a testimony to the fact that every part of the country is full of possibilities.
PM Narendra Modi on last Sunday said that the Baramulla district in north Kashmir has become the face of new white revolution and over 5.5 lakh liters of milk were being produced on a daily basis in the district.
Addressing the nation in his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, PM said that Jammu and Kashmir was being discussed throughout the world for positive developments. ”Some time ago I told you in Mann Ki Baat how Nadru of Kashmir is relished outside the country as well. Now people of Baramulla district have done a great job,” he said.
Modi said farming was going on in the district for a long time but there was shortage of milk. “People in Baramulla took this challenge as an opportunity and started working in the dairy sector in large numbers and women were the first ones to come forward in this sector, ”he said.
Citing an example, the PM said, Ishrat Nabi, a graduate from Nehalpora, Pattan had set up her dairy unit-Mir Sisters Dairy Farm and his dairy approximately sells 150 liters of milk every day. Ishrat has set up her dairy under the Integrated Dairy Development Scheme (IDDS) of the Animal Husbandry Department. Under the scheme, the department ,after proper verification ,provides a 50 % subsidy on each machine or any other equipment required to set up the dairy unit.
“We had to invest our full money for setting up a shed and applied for subsidy for the procurement of machines and live stock,” Yamar Meer, Ishrat’s brother said. “We have 12 cows at our dairy unit that produce a huge quantity of milk on daily basis,” he said.
Thus it follows that Baramulla district has become a centre of dairy farming, milk production, selling and in fact is the symbol of white revolution and it has enhanced the image of the district as a milk producing and selling district in the country and the people including the women of the district deserve thanks and admiration for ushering new white revolution and milk self sufficiency and sale thus earning money by the sale and trade of milk.
The white revolution has been possible due to the enterprising ability and quality of the people and also due to the dash and hard work and determination of the people and because of the white revolution the name of Baramulla district has becomes famous in the country.
Due to increased milk production and sale the economy of the district has registered an upward trend and this is badly required in the district.
The district administration should provide wholehearted support and help to the dairy owners so that milk production will result in earning much required money.
In fact the economy of the district has risen and the standard of life of the people has increased and it is a matter of pride for the whole district. May the milk production and dairy farming rise to new heights and shine the district in the whole Jammu and Kashmir.
Let the white revolution revolutionarize the lives of the people of the district and enhance their incomes so that the people become healthier, richer and happy. White revolution should brighten the lives of the people of the district so that it can become an example worth emulation.
The other districts of Jammu and Kashmir should copy the success story of the dairy farming of Baramulla and set up the dairy units so that the lives of the people are transformed .In short the white revolution should become a Jammu Kashmir Phenomena so that people will be benefitted by it.
(The author is a columnist, social and KP activist).
