Aadhaar link mandatory for cattle mission now

Enhancing Livestock

- Centre allocated Frs2,400-cr budget for 2021-26

- RGM for development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds

- RGM effective from December 2014

- RGM will also benefit women as they account for over 70% of the livestock farming

New Delhi: The central government has decided to use Aadhaar authentication to identify the beneficiaries of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM). In a directive to States and Union Territories (UTs), the government has requested them to mandate the use of Aadhaar authentication for RGM beneficiaries, official sources told Bizz Buzz.

Since Aadhar obviates the need for multiple documents to prove the identity of the beneficiary, the Centre, invoking the provisions of the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2019, has issued the directive to States and UTs.

The RGM, according to the website of the Department Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), is being implemented for development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds since December 2014. The DAHD is under the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

The RGM is also continued under the umbrella scheme Rashtriya Pashudhan Vikas Yojna from 2021 to 2026 with a Budget outlay of Rs2,400 crore.

The objectives of the RGM are: to enhance productivity of bovines and increasing milk production in a sustainable manner using advanced technologies; to propagate use of high genetic merit bulls for breeding purposes; to enhance artificial insemination coverage through strengthening breeding network and delivery of artificial insemination services at farmers doorstep; and to promote indigenous cattle and buffalo rearing and conservation in a scientific and holistic manner. The scheme is important in enhancing milk production and productivity of bovines to meet growing demand of milk and making dairying more remunerative to the rural farmers of the country.

All the components of RGM will be implemented on the 100 per cent grant-in-aid basis, but there are a few exceptions.

The RGM will result in enhanced productivity and the benefits of the programme will percolate to all cattle and buffaloes, especially those with small and marginal farmers. This programme will also benefit women in particular since over 70 per cent of the work involved in livestock farming is undertaken by women, officials said.