Income Generation Through Milk Cow Rearing

In our social structure, even after 77 years of Indian independence, the condition of Dalit and poor women is in perils. They are continuously being subjected to violence, their rights are being continuously violated, both knowingly and un-knowingly. They are not being streamlined into the mainstream community affairs and are barred from development process. They spend most of their lives living below poverty line. They are treated as outcasts and second class citizens. Although many attempts have been made at both micro and macro levels, the state and status of women have not changed as per the expectations. The essence remains unchanged and unaltered. The problem as identified by us, is the total backwardness of the target area with reference to health (malnourishment of women and children), education, and industrial backwardness. All the women of the targeted community have the capacity of work hard but they do not have any employment opportunities.

The target group of this project are poor widows in the age group 22 to 45 years.They all belong to scheduled castes living in remote and hilly areas selected as project area. Contrary to that, the young widows face constant sexual harassment as their cries against the violation of their rights go unheard. They have been being dominated by men and older people and they are agricultural laborers earning Rs.50 per day. The employment opportunity is for only six months in a year. They are all living in mud huts. BOSS, in order to help women with employment, is giving them access to cows to enable them to carry out alternative self-employment or income generation programmes. BOSS selected these target group of widows by conducting interviews and interaction meetings.

This project has been proposed by the beneficiaries themselves. There is a good market for the milk in their villages and they already know how to do it. Also, they can do it in their homes along with their other duties, and they can even take agricultural jobs at the same time. The women shall be trained in simple veterinary care and all of the cows will be insured. The milk will be sold to a government processing unit. After the first loan is repaid, the women will be allowed to take a second loan to buy a second cow. Also, the first cow will be inseminated through a free government program so that the women can have 3 cows within a year. The women will borrow Rs 15,000 to purchase a cow. They will repay their loans in 12 monthly payments and will also save in their self help group. They expect to make Rs 5000 per month from the sale of milk and cow dung. The specific purpose of the project is to promote milk cow rearing. One day motivational training for the target community will be given by the implementing agency. Formation of aspiring women group of 10 members of the target community and another 9 groups of women to take up the project in future. Provision of basic linguistic, numeric, financial and digital (effective use of mobile phone) literacy for the target group of 100 members by the implementing agency. Provision of cow farming training for 100 women beneficiaries taking help of the government veterinary surgeon. Insuring the cows by both the beneficiaries and implementing agency. Purchasing of medicines as per the advice of the government veterinary surgeon. Inclusion of other members in day to day marketing tie up to sell milk and training in safe disposal of slaughter waste. Training in hygienic slaughter practices by veterinary surgeons.

Submission of interim reports.

Submission of final reports.

There is sustainability in this project. After completion of the two days income generation and entrepreneurship training programme, the beneficiaries will start their own businesses to able to earn their own money through milk sales.

The following criteria will be used to select the candidates:

 The poor destitute widows, belonging to SHG will be our top priority .

 Those affected directly by poverty.

 The person with disabilities.

 The marginalised Dalit community.

 The beneficiaries should be local residents.

 100% of the beneficiaries will be female candidates.

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EXPECTED RESULTS

 20 poor widow families will acquire additional financial support.

 20 poor widow families will develop new skills which will help them further in income generation.

 20 poor women widow families will attain a sense of financial security and will be able to save up money for their children’s education.

 Creating a sense of self-reliance in the community.

 Improve knowledge on economic status.