Special Incentive Scheme for Women of Tharu, Boksa and Other Tribes (For Training and Marketing) 2026
This award recognizes and rewards outstanding contributions in the dairy sector, promoting scientific practices among farmers, boosting Read More... AI coverage, and encouraging dairy organizations. Read less
Details
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Government of India, presents the National Gopal Ratna Award annually to celebrate excellence in the dairy industry. This scheme aims to honour those who are committed to enhancing indigenous cattle and buffalo breeds through scientific methods. It also shines a spotlight on Artificial Insemination (AI) technicians for their crucial role in achieving widespread AI coverage and recognizes the efforts of dairy cooperatives and milk producer companies in driving growth and fostering a competitive spirit.
What Is This Scheme?
The National Gopal Ratna Award is a national-level recognition program. It acknowledges and rewards individuals and organizations that excel in dairy farming, managing dairy cooperatives or farmer producer organizations, and providing effective artificial insemination services. The awards include certificates, mementos, and significant monetary prizes to motivate and support these vital contributors to the nation's dairy sector.
Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?
This scheme is designed to benefit three key groups within the dairy ecosystem: dairy farmers who diligently maintain and improve indigenous breeds, Artificial Insemination Technicians who ensure widespread access to AI services, and Dairy Cooperative Societies, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and Milk Producer Companies (MPCs) that contribute to the dairy economy.
Why This Scheme Is Important
The National Gopal Ratna Award plays a pivotal role in the advancement of India's dairy sector. By motivating farmers to adopt scientific approaches for indigenous breeds, it helps preserve valuable genetic resources while increasing milk production. Supporting AI technicians ensures better reproductive health and genetic improvement in livestock. Furthermore, recognizing dairy organizations fosters efficient milk collection, processing, and marketing, ultimately benefiting millions of dairy farmers across the country.
Objective
Benefits
Training Incentives:
- Training is provided in various crafts based on market demand, along with popular crafts traditionally practiced by Tharu, Boxa, and other tribal women.
- The duration of the training program is two months, with a maximum of 25 training days per month. Each participant undergoes 5 hours of training per day, making a total of 250 training hours for the entire program.
Marketing Promotions:
- Artisans are given priority participation in traditional fairs, exhibitions, and district-level handloom exhibitions organized at the district level.
- For marketing promotion, the Government of India and the State Government provide space for the display and sale of products created by artisans during various programs, exhibitions, and India International Trade Fairs organized from time to time within the state and across the country.
- The minimum travel fare for women participating in these exhibitions/fairs, maximum freight of ₹1,000/- per artisan for transporting their products, and stall rent are all borne by the State Government.
Sources and references
Eligibility Criteria
- For Dairy Farmers:
- Must be maintaining indigenous breeds of cattle or buffaloes.
- Must be looking after breeds from the list of 53 cattle breeds or 20 buffalo breeds recognized in India.
- For Dairy Cooperative Societies / FPO / MPC:
- Must be actively involved in dairy-related activities.
- Must be legally registered under the Cooperative Societies Act or the Companies Act.
- Must be operating at the village level.
- For Non-NER states: Must collect at least 100 litres of milk per day and have a minimum of 50 farmer members.
- For NER states: Must collect at least 20 litres of milk per day and have a minimum of 20 farmer members.
- For Artificial Insemination Technicians (AIT):
- Must be associated with State/UT Livestock Development Boards, Milk Federations, NGOs, or private organizations.
- Must have successfully completed an AI training program of at least 90 days duration.
How To Apply
The application process typically involves the following steps. Please refer to the official notification for exact dates and detailed instructions.
- Interested individuals and organizations need to submit their applications.
- Applications are screened and verified by designated agencies such as the Quality Council of India (QCI) and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).
- The final selection of awardees is made by committees constituted by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD).
- Official notifications usually announce the application period and provide specific links or addresses for submission. Please visit the DAHD website for the latest information.
Documents Required
Applicants must be prepared to submit the following documents. Specific requirements might vary, so always check the official notification.
- For Individuals (Farmers/AIT): Proof of Identity.
- For Organizations (Cooperative Societies/MPC/FPO): Proof of Organization Registration.
- For Dairy Farmers: Proof of maintaining indigenous breeds.
- For Organizations: Milk Collection Records (showing daily collection capacity as per eligibility).
- For Organizations: Membership details of farmers/milk producers.
- For AIT Category: Artificial Insemination Training Certificate (minimum 90 days).
- For AIT Category: Proof of association with a relevant organization (State/UT Boards, Milk Federations, NGOs, Private Organizations).
- Any other supporting documents required by the screening committee, NDDB, or DAHD during verification.
FAQ’s
When are the National Gopal Ratna Award winners announced and awarded?
The names of the awardees are officially announced on November 25th each year, and the awards are presented on November 26th, which is celebrated as National Milk Day.
What exactly is the National Gopal Ratna Award?
It's a prestigious award by the Indian government to recognize excellence in dairy farming, dairy cooperatives/organizations, and artificial insemination services. It aims to promote scientific methods and boost productivity in the dairy sector.
Are there any monetary prizes for the Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT) category?
No, Artificial Insemination Technicians who receive the award get a Certificate of Merit and a memento but no cash prize.
What are the financial rewards for winning the Best Dairy Farmer or Best DCS/FPO/MPC award?
The top winners in these categories receive substantial cash prizes: ₹5,00,000 for the 1st rank, ₹3,00,000 for the 2nd rank, and ₹2,00,000 for the 3rd rank. A special award of ₹2,00,000 is also given for the North Eastern Region and Himalayan States.
How many awards are given out each year under this scheme?
A total of 12 awards are presented annually, with four awards given in each of the three main categories: Best Dairy Farmer, Best DCS/FPO/MPC, and Best Artificial Insemination Technician.
What criteria must a dairy organization meet to be eligible?
Dairy organizations must be registered, actively involved in dairy activities, and collect milk at the village level. For Non-NER states, they need to collect at least 100 litres daily and have 50 farmer members. For NER states, the requirement is 20 litres daily and 20 farmer members.
Who is responsible for selecting the awardees?
The selection process involves screening and verification by agencies like QCI and NDDB, followed by final evaluation and selection by dedicated committees set up by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD).
Can individuals nominate themselves for the award?
Yes, self-nomination is permitted for both individual applicants (dairy farmers and AI technicians) and organizations (DCS/FPO/MPC).
What kind of dairy breeds are preferred for the Dairy Farmer category?
Dairy farmers applying in this category should be maintaining recognized indigenous breeds of milch animals, specifically those falling under the 53 cattle breeds or 20 buffalo breeds listed by the government.
What training is required for Artificial Insemination Technicians to apply?
Artificial Insemination Technicians must have completed a recognized Artificial Insemination training course that lasted for a minimum of 90 days.
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