The State government has sanctioned a total of Rs. 1,157 crore for free distribution of milch cows, goats and sheep to the rural poor.
Of the total amount, the scheme for free distribution of milch cows accounts for Rs. 232 crore and for goats and sheep Rs. 925 crore. All these amounts are to be spent over the next five years.
For the current year, the allocations for the schemes of milch cows and goats/sheep are Rs. 56 crore and Rs. 135 crore respectively, according to government orders issued by the Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Department a few days ago.
Under the two schemes, the government will distribute 12,000 milch cows of cross-bred Jersey breed each year for five years and four goats/sheep to each of seven lakh families over the five years. The schemes will be launched on September 15 on the occasion of birth anniversary of former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai.
Under both schemes, women would be the beneficiaries, who would be involved in the process of procurement. No woman can avail herself of both the schemes. If there are eligible trans-genders, they will be considered. At least 30 per cent of the beneficiaries should be from Scheduled Castes (SC)/Scheduled Tribes (ST). The identification of beneficiaries would be done through inviting applications at special meetings of gram sabhas and the lists of shortlisted beneficiaries will be approved by village-level committees.
In respect of the scheme for milch cows, one cow per household will be given. The age of the animal should not be more than five years.
The spot purchase procedure will be applied to procure animals from the livestock shandies of other States such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra, where there is a substantial population of cross-bred cows.
It had been proposed to purchase lactating cows through the procedure in the first three years. The number of milch cows to be procured under the system will be reduced proportionately. In the subsequent two years, animals are expected to be available from 13 livestock farms run by the authorities.
In the case of any shortfall under the spot purchase system, the option to purchase cows from distant States through tenders will be resorted to.
As for the sheep/goats scheme, one lakh families would be covered this year. In the next four years, 1.5 lakh families would be covered every year. Of four goats/sheep to be distributed to each beneficiary, one should be male and three female.
Unlike in the case of the other scheme, the procurement of goats and sheep will have to be done largely within the State as the animals are prone to diseases when transported en masse from long distances and different climatic zones. Only in the case of beneficiaries from 12 districts, including Kancheepuram, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari, they can purchase animals from shandies located in neighbouring districts of other States. There is also an option for the purchase of animals from government-run farms.
