State Level Technical Management Committee on dairy development held its 20th meeting at Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services Head Quarters at Krishi Bhawan Conference Hall on 22nd June2022 under the chairmanship of Dr. P. Senthil Kumar, Secretary, AHVS Dept. The meeting was attended by Pr Director, BM Chettri, CEO, Sikkim Rural Livelihood Mission Tenzing T. Kaleon, Addl Director, Finance Dept, Mr. Sudhanshu Shekhar, Technical Officer from Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Department of AH and Dairying, Government of India, Addl Director Cattle and Dairy Dr Sanjay Gajmer, Joint Director, Subba, Managing Director, North Sikkim Milk Union, CEO, SLDB and other officials of the AHVS Dept and Milk Unions.
At the outset, The Addl Director, Dairy welcomed the members of SLTC to the meeting. Secretary AHVS/ MD Sikkim Milk Union Senthil Kumar made presentation on the status and progress made under National Program on Dairy Development project implemented by The Sikkim Co-Operative Milk Producer’s Union Ltd and he also apprised the meeting the about the growth of dairy development in the state due to the project and due to the Government Milk incentive scheme and other initiatives of the state government such as Gwala Diwas, award for milkman of the year, support for construction of milk collection centres, facilities provided for milk cooperatives and dairy farmers. The Secretary also made a presentation on the new project proposals under NPDD for Sikkim to provide bulk milk cooling machines to Village Milk Producer’s Co-operative Societies to enable them to secure milk and fetch good prices in the state. The SLTMC appreciated the efforts of the AHVS dept and Sikkim milk union in achieving the progress in dairy sector and the Government of India representative assured all support on it. Similarly, a presentation on the status of the NPDD implemented under North Sikkim Milk Union was presented by the managing director, North Milk Union Basant Khatiwara. Principal Director, AHVS informed the committee that the milk incentive scheme of the government is implemented through milk unions to improve the dairy development in the state in convergence with NPDD.
In the meeting, Sudhanshu Shekhar, rep of the Government of India suggested to the state for expediting the completion of the existing NPDD projects and submit completion reports along with audit reports and utilization certificates, He also assured that the Govt of Indian is considering new NPDD proposals of the state for providing support. CEO SRLM assured convergence of the SRLM activities with AHVS Dept through Pasu Sakhis and other components of the SRLM. Addl Director, Finance Dept appreciated the implementation of NPDD and told the SLTMC that the state share requirements of the NPDD is being met as per the need and the department may ensure utilization certificates and other documents accordingly.
The secretary appraised the effort of Government of Sikkim in improving the dairy development in the state and in the region. He informed that the Sikkim is the only North Eastern state which has grown fast in milk production and has now turned into a milk surplus state and is supplying milk to cooperatives in West Bengal and Assam as it has sent one tanker of milk to a milk union at Guwahati. Sikkim is also coming out with diversity of products to meet the consumer needs in the state as well as in the region. STLM appreciated the efforts of the AHVS Dept and Milk Union on the progress and achievement made. The meeting ended with vote of thanks by Ms. Kesang, Addl General Manager, Sikkim Milk Union.
Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services Dept
