BENGALURU: The state government has decided to spend around `120 crore under the SC/ST Sub-plan to provide subsidy on livestock for these communities to take up dairy farming.
Law and Animal Husbandry Minister T B Jayachandra told reporters on Wednesday that all departments must mandatorily spend 23 per cent of their total outlay exclusively for SC/ST communities.
Hence, he added, the Animal Husbandry Department is working out a scheme to utilise this fund to support SC/ST communities with livestock, including two head of cattle and a sheep, worth over `1 lakh.
The minister said, “While three-fourths of the livestock cost would be borne by the state government, the remaining amount has to be contributed by the beneficiary.” Ever since the cattle scheme was announced, the department has been flooded with enquiries from all taluks, he said, claiming, “We have received an average of over 3,000 requests from each taluk to avail the benefit.”
Jayachandra said that over 32,000 head of cattle are required to implement the scheme across the state. So the government has to procure livestock from neighbouring states, the minister said. “Around 100-130 SC/ST families would be shortlisted for the scheme from each taluk in the state,” he said.
Jayachandra also said the state government had recommended to the Union government to include the Golla community (cattle herders) in the ST list. The community has a population of over 6 lakh in the state.
He said an expert committee had said that people in gollar hattis (hamlets) bear all characteristics of a tribal population. The community also follows practices where women are forced to remain in seclusion during childbirth and menstrual period.
KMF Seeks `360cr for infrastructure
Minister Jayachandra said the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) had sought `360 crore to strengthen its infrastructure facilities, including establishing a new flexipack unit. He added that the state government has not received any proposal from the KMF seeking a hike in milk prices.