UP: Officials allege corruption in SP's Kamdhenu Scheme
Anonymous sources from Uttar Pradesh's Animal Husbandry department have stated that Kamdhenu Scheme, launched under the Samajwadi Party government was riddled with corruption. Sources said beneficiaries of the scheme were mostly ruling politicians, SP office bearers and their families. They said a probe would expose rampant corruption. Samajwadi Party officials are yet to comment on the allegations made.
What is the Kamdhenu scheme?
The Kamdhenu scheme was launched by the SP government in 2013 to improve the quality of dairy products in UP. Under the scheme, farmers were given loans of Rs. 1.21crore, Rs. 50lakh and Rs. 25lakh, and were asked to purchase only Jersey or HF (Holstein Friesian) cows and Murrah buffalos from Haryana and Punjab. Only 25% of the cost would be borne by promoters.
All dairies linked to SP or family members
A senior officer in the UP Animal Husbandry department said "Out of more than 500 dairies set up under the Kamdhenu scheme, there is hardly any which had no link with Samajwadi Party...the scheme had been availed of only by its leaders, ministers and office-bearers."
