Empowering Rural Women: Launch of 'Osheen Milk' in Doda

In Doda's Udhyanpur, Deputy Commissioner Harvinder Singh inaugurated a women-led Milk Value Addition Unit. Aimed at fostering entrepreneurship, the unit, supported by the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme with a 50% subsidy, offers fresh opportunities for rural women, strengthening the dairy sector and promoting self-reliance.

In a significant boost to rural entrepreneurship, Deputy Commissioner of Doda, Sh. Harvinder Singh, IAS, officially inaugurated a new women-run Milk Value Addition Unit in Udhyanpur village on Wednesday. The initiative is part of the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) 2024-25, offering a substantial 50% subsidy on projects up to ₹50 lakh.

Revered as the milk village of Doda, Udhyanpur is pivotal to this project. Maximum units under HADP are being set here, with stringent quality checks ensuring product integrity. A cooperative for tribal communities and animal husbandry stakeholders is in planning, according to Singh, aiming to bolster local industry growth and employment.

The newly launched unit, spearheaded by the Chenab Desi Dairy Self-Help Group, processes and brands local milk as 'Osheen Milk', with a substantial ₹25 lakh in financial backing. Incorporating state-of-the-art machinery, it emphasizes hygiene and quality, while creating jobs and fostering dignity among women in this remote region.