Women, especially widows, those harassed for dowry, divorcees and Devadasis can avail benefits of the scheme. The government has set aside an amount of Rs 20 crore for the implementation of the scheme, out of which Rs 56.90 lakh has been earmarked for Kodagu district.

Only dairy farming has been included under the scheme and the beneficiaries can buy cattle and improve their financial status through engaging in milk production. The total cost of setting up a unit will be Rs 20,000, out of which financial aid of Rs 10,000 will be provided. The balance amount of Rs 10,000 must be availed through loan. Needy women in the age group of 18 to 60 years with an annual income of Rs 40,000 and below are eligible to get the benefits, informed Animal Husbandry Department Deputy Director Dr M T Manjunath.

The scheme will be implemented in 90 per cent of the villages and 10 per cent of the cities. A reservation of 3 per cent has been provided for handicapped women.

 The Hassan Milk Producers’ Union will implement the scheme where milk producers’ co-operative union exists and at places where co-operative unions do not exist, WOmen and Child Development Department and Women’s Development Corporation has been assigned the responsibility of implementing the scheme. 

Priority will also be given to financially weak Stree Shakti groups and Self-Help Groups. Under the scheme, 50 per cent of the expenditure will be covered using bank loans. Financial assistance to the tune of 50 per cent will be given to ordinary women, 60 per cent for scheduled castes and while assistance upto 75 per cent will be provided for scheduled tribes under the scheme, Dr Manjunath informed.

As per the rules of the scheme, as far as possible, cattle must be purchased from outside the district and the cattle must be compulsorily insured. The expenditure of the insurance has been included in the unit expenditure itself. Two-days training must be provided to the beneficiaries before distributing cattle, he added.

Eleven beneficiaries have already been selected from the district. Those who are not members of milk producers’ co-operative society can also avail benefits of the scheme through becoming a member.