Tamil Nadu to resume free cow, goat scheme after suspension due to drought

Chennai: The free milch cows, goat scheme which was suspended due to drought, will be resumed next month, Tamil Nadu Minister for Animal Husbandry P Balakrishna Reddy said on Saturday. [caption id=“attachment_3495735” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Reuters[/caption] “It was suspended due to drought. It will be resumed next month,” he said on the sidelines of a function in Chennai. Government sources told PTI the commencement of rainfall in several parts of Tamil Nadu coupled with availability of green fodder will help facilitate resumption of the scheme in August. As regards the scheme for distribution of free milch cows, it will be implemented in 21 districts, and in respect of goats it will be in place in all districts barring Chennai, the sources added. So far as fund allocation is concerned for the schemes for 2017-18, Rs 198.75 crore has been allotted for distribution of goats and in respect of cows Rs 49.83 crore has been proposed, the sources said. On 11 July, Reddy had informed the Assembly that free scheme was temporarily stopped due to severe drought and will be resumed after receipt of adequate rainfall. One of the flagship welfare scheme of the AIADMK regime, the free cattle plan was launched in 2011 by former chief minister J Jayalalithaa. In the run up to the 2011 Assembly polls, the AIADMK had promised implementation of the scheme in its manifesto as part of efforts to usher in again a “white revolution.”