Special Incentive Scheme for Women of Tharu, Boksa and Other Tribes (For Training and Marketing) 2026

This national award celebrates and rewards outstanding contributions in dairy farming, recognizing farmers, dairy organizations, and Artificial Read More... Insemination Technicians for their scientific practices and commitment. Read less

Details

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) proudly presents the National Gopal Ratna Award, a prestigious honour aimed at fostering excellence in India's dairy sector. This award shines a spotlight on those who are instrumental in advancing dairy productivity through scientific methods and ensuring widespread access to essential services.

What Is This Scheme?

The National Gopal Ratna Award is an annual recognition program by the Indian government. It seeks to motivate dairy farmers to scientifically improve the productivity of indigenous cattle and buffalo breeds. It also encourages Artificial Insemination (AI) Technicians to achieve 100% AI coverage, a key goal of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission. Furthermore, it promotes growth and healthy competition among dairy cooperatives and milk producer companies across the nation.

Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?

The scheme is designed to benefit three main groups:

Dairy Farmers: Those who are scientifically managing indigenous breeds of milch animals.
Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCS), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO), and Milk Producer Companies (MPC): Organizations actively involved in dairy activities and supporting milk producers.
Artificial Insemination Technicians (AIT): Individuals dedicated to providing AI services, crucial for breed improvement and livestock management.

Why This Scheme Is Important

This award plays a vital role in uplifting the dairy sector by acknowledging and rewarding best practices. It incentivizes the adoption of scientific techniques for breeding indigenous animals, which are vital for India's agricultural heritage. By recognizing AI technicians, the scheme promotes better animal healthcare and reproductive efficiency. Moreover, it fosters a competitive spirit among dairy collectives, driving them towards greater efficiency and better service delivery to farmers.

Objective

This national award celebrates and rewards outstanding contributions in dairy farming, recognizing farmers, dairy organizations, and Artificial Insemination Technicians for their scientific practices and commitment.

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

Guidelines (Page No. 156)

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the National Gopal Ratna Award, applicants must meet specific criteria depending on their category:

For Dairy Farmers
- Must be maintaining recognized indigenous breeds of milch animals.
- Should be raising breeds from the list of 53 cattle breeds or 20 buffalo breeds recognized in India.
For Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCS) / Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO) / Milk Producer Companies (MPC)
- The organization must be actively engaged in dairy business activities.
- Must be registered under the relevant Cooperative Societies Act or Companies Act.
- Should be operating at the village level.
- For Non-NER States: Must collect at least 100 litres of milk daily and have a minimum of 50 farmer members.
- For NER States: Must collect at least 20 litres of milk daily and have a minimum of 20 farmer members.
For Artificial Insemination Technicians (AIT)
- Must be associated with State/UT Livestock Development Boards, Milk Federations, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), or private organizations.
- Must have successfully completed a minimum of 90 days of AI training.

How To Apply

The application process for the National Gopal Ratna Award typically involves the following steps:

Interested and eligible individuals and organizations need to submit their applications.
Applications are often received through designated online portals or can be submitted offline via the relevant state government departments or nodal agencies.
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) will announce the application period and specific submission guidelines annually.
Keep an eye on the official DAHD website for the latest notifications regarding the application window and exact procedure.

Official Contact/Application Source:

Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Government of India.

Please refer to the official DAHD website for the most current application link and details.

Documents Required

Applicants need to prepare a set of documents for verification. The exact list may vary slightly based on the applicant's category, but generally includes:

Proof of Identity: For individual applicants (Farmers/AIT).
Proof of Organization Registration: For DCS/MPC/FPO registered under the Cooperative Societies Act or Companies Act.
Proof of Indigenous Breed Maintenance: For dairy farmers to confirm they are raising eligible breeds.
Milk Collection Records: Showing daily collection capacity as per the eligibility criteria for organizations.
Membership Details: Proof of farmer or milk producer members for organizations.
Artificial Insemination Training Certificate: A copy of the certificate for AIT candidates, confirming a minimum of 90 days of training.
Employment/Association Proof: For AITs, showing their affiliation with relevant organizations like State/UT Boards, Milk Federations, NGOs, or private entities.
Any Supporting Documents: As may be required by the Screening Committee, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), or DAHD during field verification or evaluation.

FAQ’s

What's the main goal behind the National Gopal Ratna Award?

The award aims to encourage farmers to scientifically boost the production from India's native milch animal breeds. It also pushes Artificial Insemination Technicians to achieve 100% AI coverage and fosters a spirit of growth and competition among dairy cooperatives and milk producer companies.

Who is eligible to apply for this award?

The award is open to dairy farmers, Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCS) or Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO) or Milk Producer Companies (MPC), and Artificial Insemination Technicians (AITs), provided they meet the specific criteria for their respective categories.

Can I nominate myself for the award?

Yes, both individuals (farmers and AI technicians) and organizations (DCS/FPO/MPC) are permitted to self-nominate for the National Gopal Ratna Award.

How many individuals or groups receive this award annually?

Each year, a total of 12 awards are presented, with four awards distributed across each of the three distinct categories.

What financial rewards are part of this award?

For the Best Dairy Farmer and Best DCS/FPO/MPC categories, the prizes are ₹5,00,000 for the first rank, ₹3,00,000 for the second, and ₹2,00,000 for the third. An additional ₹2,00,000 is given as a special award for contributions from North Eastern and Himalayan states.

Do Artificial Insemination Technicians receive any cash prize?

No, Artificial Insemination Technicians recognized under this award receive a Certificate of Merit and a Memento only; there is no monetary prize for this category.

What are the basic requirements for dairy organizations to apply?

Dairy organizations must be registered and involved in dairy operations. For non-NER states, they need to collect at least 100 litres of milk daily from at least 50 members. For NER states, the requirement is 20 litres daily from at least 20 members.

Are veterinarians eligible to apply for the AIT award category?

No, the award category for Artificial Insemination Technicians is specifically for individuals trained and working as technicians, and veterinary doctors are not eligible for this particular category.

Could you explain the selection process for the awardees?

Applications are first screened by an agency like the Quality Council of India (QCI). Following this, they undergo verification, which may include field visits by entities like the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). Finally, designated committees formed by DAHD make the ultimate selection.

When are the winners announced and when do they receive their awards?

The names of the awardees are typically announced on November 25th, and the formal presentation of the awards takes place on November 26th, which is celebrated as National Milk Day.