Why in news:

• The Himachal Pradesh government Friday announced ‘Him Ganga’ scheme to promote milk-based economy in the state in keeping with its promises made in the run-up to the Assembly polls last year regarding milk purchase and incentives to dairy producers.

Key Points:

• Under this scheme, cattle rearers will be provided true cost-based milk price.  In this regard, qualitative improvement will be brought in the system of milk procurement, processing and marketing.
• The state government will ensure that milk producers are protected from regional and seasonal price fluctuations of milk and its products, especially poorer sections, so that they get fair prices for their products.
• The scheme has been allotted Rs 500 crore from the overall outlay. As a pilot project, farmers in animal husbandry of some areas will be brought under this scheme. On the basis of results, the scheme will be replicated in other areas.
• Further, in order to increase income of milk farmers, milk producer cooperative societies will be formed as per need. Effective marketing of milk and its products will be ensured through these cooperative societies.
• To further make the scheme a success, milk processing plants will be set up and the existing plants will be upgraded. For this, all necessary infrastructure and supply chains will be established in a phased manner. Besides, the state government will be upgrading veterinary services and will be starting 44 mobile vet vans in 2023-24.
• In order to boost this scheme, the CM announced ‘milk cess’ of Rs 10 per bottle on liquor sold in the state, which will fetch Rs 100 crore every year. This levy will be used to hike income of milk producers through increased milk production.