NEW DELHI, Sep 7: The central government will consider a suggestion of the vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu to include milk in the mid-day meal scheme for the school children, the minister for women and child development Smriti Irani said.
She gave the assurance to Naidu who spoke to her suggesting milk could be included as part of breakfast or mid-day meal in schools to improve the nutritional levels of the children.
The suggestion was made after the union animal husbandry and dairying department secretary Atul Chaturvedi called on Naidu on Monday morning and briefed him about various measures being taken to help poultry and dairy sectors to tide over the problems in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
He informed the Vice President that the government was encouraging entrepreneurship in the poultry sector and providing support by way of incentives and policy intervention. He also said the Department of Animal Husbandry would also consider recommending to the Ministry of Finance the need to restructure loans for the poultry industry.
He also apprised Naidu that the procurement by the milk cooperatives in the organized sector had been stepped up. The Government was providing an interest subvention of two per cent per annum to cooperatives on working capital loans. Also, an additional incentive of two per cent interest subvention was being given in case of timely repayment. On the suggestion of the Vice President, the Secretary assured to consider extending a similar facility to private dairies.
The Vice President was also informed of the plans of the department to develop cattle farms, sheep and goats rearing farms and regional fodder stations through public-private partnership model by better utilizing the available infrastructure. He also apprised him of plans to improve cattle breed through latest in-vitro fertilization technology.
(Manas Dasgupta)
