Bhopal, Sep 1 (IANS) The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, on Tuesday approved a comprehensive package of approximately Rs 41,000 crore aimed at the overall development of the state and strengthening its infrastructure.

Public Works Department Minister Rakesh Singh briefed the media after the meeting.

Singh said the approvals include Rs 29,619 crore for the implementation of the VB Ram Ji Yojana. He also informed that approximately Rs 2,973 crore has been allocated for milk producers, of which Rs 1,547 crore is specifically earmarked to enhance processing capacity for various dairy products.

“This is a significant step for the production of various dairy products,” Singh said.

Providing further details on the animal husbandry and dairy sector, the minister said a total of Rs 2,973 crore has been sanctioned. Under the Dairy Development Scheme, the government has decided to expand the network of cooperative milk societies from the present 7,331 villages to 26,000 villages over the next five years.

Singh said milk collection will be scaled up from the current 1.2 million kilograms to 5.2 million kilograms per day. The existing processing capacity of 1.78 million litres will be increased to 6.33 million litres per day.

In addition, milk packet sales will be raised from 7 lakh litres to 35 lakh litres per day.

Earlier, Union Cooperative and Home Minister Amit Shah had advised the Madhya Pradesh government to augment milk production by increasing the number of milk cooperatives in mission mode.

Minister Singh underlined that these measures are expected to substantially strengthen the dairy sector, benefit milk producers across the state and create new opportunities in rural areas. He said the decisions reflect the government’s focus on both large-scale infrastructure development and the growth of the agricultural and dairy economy.

The Cabinet’s decisions, he said, form part of a broader effort to ensure balanced development and improve livelihood opportunities for farmers and dairy farmers in Madhya Pradesh.

–IANS

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