Secretary (AHD) Chairs Regional Review Meeting for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Sector in North East States

New Delhi: Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary (AHD), presided over a crucial Regional Review Meeting in New Delhi today, focusing on the progress of implementation of various programmes and schemes in the Animal Husbandry and Dairy sector across the North East States. The meeting brought together Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary, along with concerned Directors from Animal Husbandry and Dairying Departments of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura.

The comprehensive review meeting witnessed the active participation of Additional Secretary, Joint Secretaries, Chief Controller of Accounts, and other senior officers from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, GOI.

Smt. Alka Upadhyaya diligently reviewed the physical and financial progress of key schemes including Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), Entrepreneurship Development under National Livestock Mission (NLM), National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP), Dairy Processing & Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF), and National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) being executed by the Central Government in the North East States.

In her address, she stressed the importance of efficiently utilizing unspent balances, urging states to promptly finalize and submit their annual action plans and demands for the financial year 2024-25 to the Central Government. Smt. Upadhyaya highlighted priority areas such as the creation of Fodder Task Force, Livestock Insurance, establishment of IVF Labs, and infrastructure development for enhanced healthcare services within the States.

The Secretary urged the States to provide valuable feedback on the NADCP scheme to ensure its effective implementation. She placed strong emphasis on the establishment of Milk Producer Companies, emphasizing the strategic role of dairy cooperatives in fortifying the dairy industry.

Highlighting the recent launch of the Realigned Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) Portal, Smt. Upadhyaya encouraged States to actively promote the scheme among beneficiaries, empowering them to maximize its benefits and fostering entrepreneurship in the Animal Husbandry and Dairy sector. The Regional Review Meeting serves as a pivotal platform for collaborative efforts, ensuring the successful implementation of key initiatives and fostering sustainable growth in the sector.