Secretary Alka Upadhyaya Chairs Regional Review Meeting on Animal Husbandry and Dairying

New Delhi: Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, chaired a Regional Review Meeting at Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, New Delhi. The meeting included Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries, and Directors from Animal Husbandry and Dairying Departments of Northern States, namely Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, and Ladakh. The gathering aimed to discuss the progress of implementing various programs and schemes in the Animal Husbandry and Dairy sector.

Key schemes such as 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) were under scrutiny. The meeting, attended by Additional Secretary, Joint Secretaries, Chief Controller of Accounts, and other senior officers from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, GOI, focused on reviewing the physical and financial advancements of these schemes.

Secretary Alka Upadhyaya stressed the importance of utilizing and disposing of unspent balances in the Northern States under the schemes. She directed the states to promptly finalize and submit their annual action plans and financial demands for the fiscal year 2024-25 to the Union Government.

During the meeting, Upadhyaya urged states to explore the Pashu Kalyan Model introduced by the Government of Madhya Pradesh. She emphasized that states should focus on infrastructure development to enhance healthcare services for animals. The Secretary provided specific directives for feedback on the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) scheme to ensure its effective implementation.

Upadhyaya also underscored the strategic importance of establishing Milk Producer Companies and dairy cooperatives to strengthen the dairy industry. She directed states to assess the activity and functionality of animal welfare boards within each state, ensuring the well-being of animals in the region. The meeting concluded with a commitment to enhancing the efficiency and impact of ongoing programs and schemes for the welfare of animals in Northern States.