Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Saturday said Madhya Pradesh will receive a major boost under White Revolution 2.0, with the state government targeting a substantial increase in daily milk procurement and the expansion of cooperative dairies.
Addressing a Gaupalak Sammelan at Dussehra Maidan in Bhopal, HM Shah said the Centre and the Madhya Pradesh government would work together with livestock rearers to strengthen the dairy sector, raise farmers’ incomes and expand women’s participation in dairy cooperatives.
He said the Madhya Pradesh government has set a target of increasing daily milk procurement from 12 lakh kg to 52 lakh kg, describing it as an ambitious goal and assuring the state of the Centre’s full support.
“The massive gathering of livestock rearers is an auspicious sign for the White Revolution in Madhya Pradesh,” HM Shah said.
He said the creation of an independent Ministry of Cooperation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given fresh impetus to the cooperative sector, with farmers, livestock rearers and others dependent on the rural economy among its major beneficiaries.
75,000 New Cooperative Dairies Under White Revolution 2.0
HM Shah said the Centre has set a target of establishing 75,000 new cooperative dairies across the country and strengthening 46,000 existing dairies under White Revolution 2.0.
Madhya Pradesh is expected to benefit significantly from the initiative, with new cooperative dairies to strengthen organised milk markets, improve access to processing facilities and help livestock rearers secure better returns.
HM Shah said livestock rearers who sell milk in the open market often receive lower returns because of intermediaries. The cooperative system, he said, can provide remunerative prices while also enabling producers to benefit from milk processing and value addition.
He emphasised the need to expand processing infrastructure for products such as ice cream, butter, ghee, cheese and mawa, allowing dairy producers to participate in a larger share of the value chain.
India’s Milk Production Rises Sharply
Highlighting the growth of India’s dairy sector, HM Shah said the country’s milk production had increased from approximately 14.60 crore tonnes in 2014-15 to around 24.80 crore tonnes currently.
Per capita milk availability has also risen by around 58%, from approximately 307 grams per day in 2014-15 to 485 grams per day, he said, adding that India has emerged as the world’s largest milk-producing country.
He said Indian dairy products are now being exported to several countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, the United States, Saudi Arabia and Bhutan, with dairy exports reaching approximately ₹4,666 crore.
Focus on Breed Improvement and Indigenous Cattle
HM Shah said breed improvement would be an important component of efforts to increase milk productivity and strengthen the dairy sector in Madhya Pradesh.
He said he had requested the state government to provide 50 acres of land for cattle and buffalo breed improvement programmes, and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had given in-principle approval.
The initiative will focus on improving animal health and milk productivity while promoting the conservation and development of indigenous breeds. Modern technologies such as sex-sorted semen will also be used to improve breeding outcomes and create additional economic opportunities for livestock rearers, he said.
Dung-Based Economy to Generate Additional Income
The Union Minister also highlighted the potential of a dung-based economy, saying technology-driven models had been developed for the scientific collection and processing of dung.
These models aim to reduce methane emissions, generate clean energy, recycle nutrients and create rural employment. HM Shah said efforts would be made to develop systems through which dung could become an additional source of income for livestock rearers and farmers.
He said initiatives covering breed improvement, vaccination, quality livestock, fodder management, artificial insemination and sex-sorted semen were being pursued as part of efforts to modernise the dairy sector and integrate it with the circular economy and Net Zero objectives.
Dairy Cooperatives to Empower Women
HM Shah described dairy cooperatives as a powerful instrument of women’s empowerment, noting that dairy activities can place income directly in the hands of women and strengthen rural families.
He said the dairy sector can simultaneously contribute to women’s empowerment, rural development, farmers’ economic prosperity and the fight against malnutrition.
Women livestock rearers, or “Gaupalak Didis”, were also honoured during the programme in recognition of their contribution to the dairy sector.
New Dairy Infrastructure Projects Launched
During the programme, HM Shah digitally laid the foundation stone for a 3 lakh litres per day milk processing plant in Ujjain, to be established at a cost of ₹255 crore.
He also inaugurated a 40,000 litres per day Product Dairy Plant in Bhopal, constructed at a cost of approximately ₹16.5 crore, along with a state-level central laboratory built at a cost of ₹12.42 crore.
The strengthening works of the Mini Dairy Plant in Shivpuri, undertaken at a cost of ₹6.5 crore, were also inaugurated.
The projects are expected to strengthen milk processing capacity, quality-testing infrastructure and the wider dairy ecosystem in the state.
During the event, bonuses were distributed to livestock rearers associated with the Bhopal and Indore Milk Unions, while financial assistance was extended to gaushalas.
Dividends were also distributed among members of dairy cooperative societies, livestock rearers were felicitated and sanction letters were issued under the Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Kamdhenu Yojana.
HM Shah Highlights New Criminal Laws
Earlier, HM Shah inaugurated a state-level exhibition on the new criminal laws and reviewed sections showcasing their implementation by the Madhya Pradesh Police.
Addressing the gathering, he said the new criminal justice framework marked a shift from the punishment-centric system of the colonial era towards one focused on delivering justice to citizens.
He said the objective of the new laws was to safeguard the dignity, property and physical security of citizens, with “justice” rather than “punishment” at their core.
HM Shah said the new framework incorporates modern technologies and scientific tools, including electronic evidence, online summons, online hearings, video conferencing and forensic science. It also contains specific provisions dealing with crimes against women, missing children, terrorism and mob lynching.
He said that once fully implemented, the new criminal justice system would make judicial processes more time-bound, from registration of an FIR through proceedings up to the Supreme Court.
Push for Drug-Free Madhya Pradesh
HM Shah also said the Centre and the state government were working towards making Madhya Pradesh free from narcotics and drugs.
He said a detailed meeting was being held with CM Yadav and the departments concerned to formulate an action plan for tackling the problem and protecting the state’s youth and future generations.
During the programme, an MoU was exchanged between KRIBHCO and the Madhya Pradesh State Biodiversity Board for developing an urban forest in Bhopal under the “Morvan Project”.
HM Shah said the Centre and state would continue working together to strengthen the cooperative and dairy sectors so that livestock rearers, farmers and women could benefit from the expansion of Madhya Pradesh’s dairy economy.
