LUCKNOW: Women in rural pockets of 31 districts in Uttar Pradesh have set an example of self-reliance while driving the rural economy through their efforts made in the field of milk production and procurement.
Women's groups active across those 31 districts are collecting around 10 lakh litres of milk daily, not only increasing production but also generating a massive business of about Rs 5000 crore. This has infused new energy into the rural economy and significantly increased the income of women.
The support of government schemes and their effective implementation under Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission has come in handy in leading lakhs of women in the state to emerge as a strong pillar of economic empowerment.
As per state government officials, these women's self-help groups, comprising women from more than 6,000 villages, are associated with this initiative and are making remarkable progress. Moreover, they are actively involved in the entire value chain, including milk procurement, processing and marketing.
According to a state government spokesperson, the model is not only providing employment to women but is also establishing them as entrepreneurs. "It is reducing migration from villages while accelerating economic activities at the local level. With the support of state government schemes, training and financial assistance, this network of rural women has the potential to take the state to newer heights in the dairy sector in the years to come," he said.
Various women-led Milk Producer Companies (MPCLs) in the state are driving this transformation. In the Bundelkhand region, Balini MPCL is operational in Banda, Chitrakoot, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalitpur, and Mahoba districts.
In Purvanchal, Kashi MPCL is active in Ballia, Chandauli, Ghazipur, Mirzapur, Sant Ravidas Nagar, Sonbhadra and Varanasi.
Samarthya MPCL is empowering women in Pratapgarh, Raebareli, Sultanpur, Ayodhya, Fatehpur, Amethi and Kanpur Nagar belt.
In the Gorakhpur division, Shri Baba Gorakhnath Kripa MPCL is active across Deoria, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar and Maharajganj districts.
In the Terai region, Srijan MPCL is creating new opportunities in Bareilly, Lakhimpur Kheri, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, Sitapur and Rampur.