Govt mulls launch of ‘Telangana’ brand of meat

As part of the second phase of sheep distribution, the State government had set aside Rs 3,000 crore in the 2021-22 budget, for the benefit of all eligible applicants

Hyderabad: Considering the increasing demand for quality meat in the State, the Telangana government is mulling launch of ‘Telangana’ brand of meat through the Telangana State Sheep and Goat Development Corporation. Animal Husbandry Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav said the vision of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao had turned into reality with the shepherd community in the State generating a total wealth of Rs 5,490 crore due to sheep reproduction and sale of meat since the launch of the sheep distribution scheme.

Speaking during the Question Hour in the State Assembly on Tuesday, the Minister said the State government had spent Rs 4,587.20 crore on sheep distribution scheme and around 3.66 lakh units were distributed to eligible beneficiaries. As part of the second phase of sheep distribution, the State government had set aside Rs 3,000 crore in the 2021-22 budget, for the benefit of all eligible applicants. In addition to around 33,000 pending applications, the State government is planning to invite fresh applications from eligible persons soon.

“Despite lot of people laughing at the idea, the Chief Minister took the initiative and decided to encourage caste-based, traditional occupations in the State to strengthen the rural economy. The opposition parties which laughted at the scheme initially, demanded for inviting fresh applications when the Chief Minister’s vision was proved correct following increased meat consumption in the State during the Covid-19 pandemic,” Srinivas Yadav stated.

He pointed out that the Chief Minister had already approved the proposals to allow grazing of sheep in forest lands without any objections from the Forest Department. Fodder is also being supplied by the government at 50 per cent subsidy. The modalities for second phase of sheep distribution will be finalised shortly to clear the pending applications where the beneficiaries have already paid their share through demand drafts. He assured stringent action against the irregularities in the sheep distribution scheme.

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