Chief minister J. Jayalalithaa on Sunday gave away incentives to the tune of Rs26.74 crore to 2,02,173 milk producers of the Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union in various districts for generating additional income.
Ms Jayalalithaa presented the assistance to members of the Union from Coimbatore, Salem, Tiruchy and Madurai at a function held at the state secretariat here. According to an official statement, the Coimbatore Cooperative Milk Producers’ Zone has registered an income of Rs15.40 crore and the union was given an incentive of Rs50 paise per litre amounting to Rs4.1 crore to 21,189 members.
The Madurai Cooperative Milk Producers’ zone, which generated an income of Rs7.23 crore was given an incentive amounting to Rs2.41 crore benefiting 27,856 persons.
The Tiruchirapalli Cooperative Milk Producers’ zone earned an income of Rs10.84 crore and was provided an incentive amounting to Rs5 crore benefiting 48,414 persons and the Salem Cooperative Milk Producers’ zone earned an income of `13.9 crore and Rs15.74 crore in successive years.
For the first year, 52,277 milk producers were given Rs7.96 crores as incentive and for the second year 52,437 milk producers in the district were given Rs7.27 crore.
Also, Ms Jayalalithaa gave financial assistance of Rs25,000 each from Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund to 113 students from economically-backward families who are pursuing medical and engineering courses.
Further, she ordered the release of water from Kelavarapalli reservoir for irrigating over 8,000 acres of crops in the district. She said she had directed the release of water for 150 days.