Cows to be bought for livestock scheme

CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday said poor women would benefit most from the free milch cow programme to be implemented in Tamil Nadu.During the discussion on the State budget in the Assembly, CPI members T Ramachandran and S Gunasekaran and CPM legislator K Balakrishnan wanted to know the basis on which the beneficiaries would be selected for the free cattle scheme.Jayalalithaa said the beneficiary should be the woman of the household for the milch cow scheme. “Women-headed households will be given priority. The beneficiary should be below 60 years of age.”Stating that beneficiaries must not own land over one acre in their own name or in family members’ name, she said that they should not own a cow. To be beneficiaries, the aspirants should not be an employee of Central/State governments, cooperatives or member of local bodies. Also, they should not be a beneficiary under the free sheep scheme.While milch cows will be procured from outside Tamil Nadu, sheep will be bought from within the State. Officials will accompany the beneficiaries to buy cows. The transportation and lodging expense will be borne by the government, she said.