Announced last winter by CM, govt clueless over 'milk villages'

Concerned Min 'not fully aware about projects'

BIVEK MATHUR

JAMMU: Despite repeated announcements by the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in December last year regarding the establishment of 'milk villages' in Jammu on pilot basis- analogous to the prototype of 'apple villages and mango villages' to be established in Srinagar- are yet far from reality as nothing concrete has been done as on date, even as the concerned Minister conceded that he is not fully aware of the projects, when contacted by The News Now.
It was the winters of last year, December 18 to be precise, when Chief Minister while addressing a tribal convention at Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust in Jammu had stated that for the tribal, Gujjar and Bakerwal community members, her government wanted to establish 'milk villages' in Jammu region where the population of the nomads is higher.
Officially the project was expected to give a stable and everlasting sustainability to the economic resources to the nomads.
Later, while chairing the 35th Board Meeting of the State Advisory Board for Gujjars and Bakerwals on December 22 last year, the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti again reaffirmed that her government wanted to establish the milk villages "soon."
Under the 'milk villages project', the CM had said that the PDP-BJP government had decided to identify some pockets/villages as 'milk villages' where the facilities of collection, testing and subsequent market distribution of milk and milk products would be done on a scientific and professional basis so that the nomadic community of milk producers was saved from exploitation of the market by the middlemen.
"Initially, we will launch this project on pilot basis to see whether it is feasible to establish the milk villages or not," the CM had said.
However, even as the chill in the air has signaled the arrival of next winters, according to sources, no headway has been made as on date to establish the milk villages, the ambitious project is standing on a wet wicket.
Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Ajay Nanda said, "As per my knowledge, nothing has been done in this regard till date, but this project is under the active consideration of the PDP-BJP government."
The junior minister from BJP later said, "I am heading towards the summer capital, Srinagar tomorrow. So, I will give you bit by bit information about the project from there only."
Meanwhile just like bolt from the blue, the Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Rajiv Ranjan said, "I have not received any communication or finances from the government regarding the establishment of milk villages."
Though the project 'Milk villages' is yet in doldrums but it has become a 'cherished dream' for a little chunk of nomad population which is completely dependent upon selling of 'milk and its allied products' and still are looking forward towards dust to be cleared on the project at earliest.