Ksheera Bhagya Scheme inaugurated in Mangalore

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Aug 1, 2013: State Forest Minister and District in charge minister Ramanath Rai inaugurated Ksheera Bhagya, the milk powder distribution programme of the government for school children at Gandhinagar Government School, Mannagudda on August 1, Thursday.

Speaking at the programme organized by Department of Public Instruction, he said that milk is essential food for everyone. The consumption of adequate quantity of milk will also reduce  the mother and infant mortality rate, he said and described the Ksheera Bhagya Scheme as a healthy scheme initiated by the state government.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delivering the presidential address, Raviraj Hegde, President of Dakshina Kannada Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd (DKMUL) said that the government has done a good job by increasing the incentive  given to dairy farmers to Rs 4. He also said that 4 years ago, DK used to get milk from Maharastra, but the previous government and present government has introduced many schemes and loans for the dairy farmers in turn helping in increasing milk production.

At present DK alone produces 55 lakhs litre of milk, out of which 35 lakhs litres are given in form of milk, 5 lakhs litres in form of sweets and 15 lakhs litre as milk powders.

He also said that producing milk in twin districts is not a problem, but the transportation cost was a deterrent factor.  A total of 5795 kg of milk powder which will account to 47,526 litres  of milk will be provided to 3,16,845 students in 2488 schools of  twin districts  every alternate day. A total of  2041 kg of milk powder which will be equal to 21,447 litre milk will be provided to  1,46,981 kids of 3248 Anganwadi centres under the scheme.

N  Prakash, Deputy Commissioner, Gertrude Vegas, Deputy Director, Women & Child Welfare Department,  Moses Jayashekar, Deputy Director, Department of Public Instructions and others are present.