Now consumers in Haryana will be able to get pure milk of desi cow as the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched pasteurised A2 milk of this breed.
It was launched at a state-level function today at Panchkula in the state.
Speaking at the event, Khattar said that its sale points would be set up in Panchkula, Kurukshetra and in Delhi also.
Initially, the plant for A2 milk of 'desi cow' has been set up at Kurukshetra where 5,000 litres of milk would be processed and packed and it would be sold through 'Vita' brand booths.
The CM also launched two schemes - One Time Settlement Scheme 2016 for the settlement of NPAs of District Central Cooperative Banks and Micro ATM for distribution of pension and other allowances under the social security pension of Central Cooperative Bank, Haryana, an official release said.
Khattar said that milk of desi cows would be purchased from the cooperative milk societies working at village level at an attractive price and would be taken to the plant at Kurukshetra where it would be processed and packed.
This would not only increase the income of milk producers but the consumers would also be able to get pure milk of cow. Besides, it would also promote the rearing of cows in the state, he said.
An MoU was also signed between Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Haryana Dairy Development Cooperative Federation Limited in the presence of the Chief Minister.
Under the pact, the Vita milk booths would be set up at about 1,500 petrol pumps of IOCL for the sale of milk and milk products.
Such MoUs would be signed with other companies also so as to promote the cow milk, Khattar said.
Describing it as a historical day, the CM said various steps have been taken by the state government for the promotion and conservation of cows.
Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015 was enacted. Besides, a mass movement was also launched to enhance faith of the people in cow.
The state government has decided to set up 'gau abhyaranyas' (cow sanctuaries) for the conservation for stray cows in the state. These sanctuaries would be set up over 10 to 50 acres of land. Apart from this, arrangement of fodder, water and grant were also being made for all 408 gaushalas in the state.
The CM further said that Gau Seva Aayog has been
constituted with a budget provision of Rs 20 crore.
Besides, cow competitions were also being organised in the State to promote cow rearing.
Describing the cow's milk as 'Panchamrita', he said it is much more beneficial as compared to the milk of buffalo and is helpful in curing many diseases.
"Now, a study also reveals that electricity could also be generated from cow's urine," he added.
As the land holdings are continuously shrinking and agriculture becoming a costly affair, the people should adopt cow rearing as an alternate source of income, the CM suggested.
He said as the people in urban areas could not rear cows, they could adopt the same in villages by way of funding them. In turn they could get pure milk and ghee, he added.
Haryana Agriculture Minister Om Parkash Dhankar, who was also present at the event, said that it was the dream of the state government that every household in the state has atleast one cow.
The state government would ensure that the income being generated through cow milk should not be less than that of the milk of buffalo, he said, adding that the milk of desi cow is more beneficial for human consumption as it contains A2 type protein whereas the cow of foreign breed has A1 (type protein)
A cat-walk competition of cows was organised in village Bahu Akbarpur in Rohtak district and cash prize of Rs 2.50 lakh was awarded, Dhankar said.
He further said that about 634 cows and bulls participated in the competition out of which 117 were honoured with cash prizes.
Minister of State for Cooperation Bikram Yadav said that 4.50 lakh liter per day milk was purchased from various milk societies in the state whereas its sale is about 3.36 lakh liter per day.
He said that it was during the tenure of present state government that Vita has earned profit in 2015-16.
