Writeup AP 2011-12 - Punjab State Planning Board

NABARD, construction and up-gradation of 7 new veterinary polyclinics, construction of 19
sub-divisional level veterinary hospitals and up-gradation of 10 existing polyclinics & 782
hospitals shall be completed during the year 2011-12.
33. Various steps have been taken for increasing the milk production from the
present level of 1300 liters per lactation to 3000 liters per lactation. The coverage of
buffaloes under artificial insemination is being increased and about 1000 trained AI workers
are inducted every year for door to door AI services. To boost the milk production in cows,
semen and embryos of high genetic potential are being imported. State government has
constituted a Livestock Registration Authority with the mandate of registering productive
livestock in the state. The state government needs financial assistance from GoI for the same.
Five new ultra modern cattle mandis would be set up to give fillip to the growing dairy
sector.
34. MILKFED has a widespread network of over 6500 milk producers’
cooperative societies having about 4 lakh members. Government of India has identified 6
milk unions of Punjab namely; Amritsar, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Bathinda, Sangrur and
Gurdaspur for providing financial assistance under a centrally sponsored plan scheme
“Financial Assistance to cooperatives to meet out their losses”.
35. The Central Cooperative Banks play an extremely vital role in the agricultural
economy of the state. Quantum of re-finance from NABARD for short term agriculture
loans is only 45%. It needs to be increased to 75%. The NABARD charges 4% rate of
interest on this refinance and since cooperative banks have to make available loans at 7% rate
of interest, the margin left with cooperative banks is only 0.25%, thereby jeopardizing the
viability of the banks. The rate of interest charged by NABARD needs to be reduced to
2.5%. Government of India should withdraw the levy of income tax on cooperative banks.
These banks cannot be treated at par with commercial banks.
RURAL DEVELOPMENT
36. In an earnest endeavor towards rural rejuvenation of all 12673 villages, the
Panchayati Raj Institutions are being involved by the government not only in asset formation
and management, but also in the entire process of planning, through an outlay of Rs. 516.39
crore during 2011-12.. The state government is committed to the provision of modern
amenities and sanitation facilities in rural areas and also to the creation of employment
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