Gomuthra dairy to supplement women's income

Udder side

Speaking at the Artificial Insemination (AI) Women Workers’ two-day State-level conference here on Wednesday, she said the STEP (Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women) has enabled women, especially in the villages, to step out of the confines of their households and earn their livelihood under the scheme.

Livelihood matters

STEP has also encouraged devadasi women to earn a living through the AI programmes, she said.

Women who have worked in the AI programme and have successfully inseminated maximum number of cows which have given birth to calves of a good breed, were felicitated on the occasion.

A S Premanath, MD of Karnataka Milk Federation appreciated rural women’s participation in dairy development.

No 2 position

“The dedication of the rural women is responsible for the KMF to secure No 2 position in the country. Now, taking the artificial insemination programme for cattle to the next level, lies in the hands of women,” he added. 

The conference is a step to boost the work of women inseminators who travel on two-wheelers even in rough weather, to increase the cattle wealth. STEP was launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 1986 in India and was initiated by the Karnataka Milk Federation in the State, in 1997.

Till date, STEP programme has organised 1,924 exclusive women dairy co-operatives in 13 milk unions, in eight phases. Since the inception of STEP, 4,848 women have been employed in these co-operatives - including 165 widows, 36 deserted women, 38 physically challenged women - who are earning Rs 15,000 to Rs 50,000 per month.