The stage is set for the launch of cattle distribution programme of Telangana Government to eligible shepherd families across the State on Tuesday.
The scheme envisages distribution of one unit - 20 sheep and one ram each - to over seven lakh families in different parts of the State at a subsidy of 75%. According to estimates, each unit is expected to cost ₹1.25 lakh.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is scheduled to kick start the prestigious programme, estimated to cost around ₹5,000 crore on completion, at Kondapaka village in Gajwel constituency, while Ministers, MPs and MLAs will simultaneously launch the programme in their respective constituencies. Officials are estimating that over 3,000 units would be distributed on the first day itself and the number would go up subsequently.
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Animal Husbandry Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav told reporters on Monday that 7,846 societies of sheep and cattle rearers were registered in 8,710 village panchayats and the total membership in these societies is around 7.18 lakh.
The government had accordingly decided to distribute one unit of sheep each to 3.6 lakh beneficiaries selected through lottery during the first year and this would be followed by distribution of the animals to another 3.5 lakh beneficiaries the next year. The number of eligible beneficiaries is estimated at 4.5 lakh initially, but it had gone up to 7.18 lakh.