The Acharya Vidyasagar Gau Samvardhan Yojana is a scheme by the Government of Madhya Pradesh aimed at promoting dairy development by supporting the establishment of goat/cow units for indigenous cattle. The scheme is designed to improve milk production and enhance the livelihoods of cow owners and cow shelters by facilitating the rearing of indigenous cows. Beneficiaries can develop a unit for a minimum of 5 animals (with the minimum land requirement increasing proportionately with the number of animals) with a project cost ceiling of ₹10.00 lakhs per unit.
Under this scheme:
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Financing Structure:
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75% of the project cost must be financed through a bank loan.
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The remaining 25% is to be arranged by the beneficiary as margin money assistance.
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Interest Subsidy:
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The department reimburses interest on the bank loan at 5% per annum (subject to a maximum of ₹25,000 per annum) for 7 years.
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If the bank’s interest rate exceeds 5%, the beneficiary is responsible for the extra cost.
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Benefits
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Project Cost:
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Maximum limit of ₹10.00 lakhs per goat/cow unit.
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Financial Structure:
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75% financing through a bank loan.
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25% margin money contribution by the beneficiary (up to ₹1.50 lakhs for general category; up to ₹2.00 lakhs for SC/ST).
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Interest Subsidy:
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Reimbursement of interest on the 75% loan portion at 5% per annum, capped at ₹25,000 per annum for 7 years.
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Eligibility
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Beneficiary Type:
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The scheme is open to all registered cow shelters, non-governmental organizations, and individuals who own indigenous cows.
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Registration:
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Cow owners or shelters must be registered with the Gau Samvardhan Board.
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Documentation:
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The applicant must have a valid Aadhaar card.
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The cow(s) must be registered with the Gau Samvardhan Board.
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Facilities:
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There must be dedicated space and facilities for the cows including feeding, cleaning, and medical care.
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Banking Requirement:
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A bank account must be maintained in the name of the cow shelter or the individual beneficiary.
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Application Process
Offline Process:
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Gram Sabha Approval:
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The beneficiary is first approved by the Gram Sabha.
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Janpad Panchayat Approval:
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The list of beneficiaries approved by the Gram Sabha is further ratified in a Janpad Panchayat meeting.
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Bank Approval:
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The Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry sends the approved case to the bank for final approval.
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Final Submission:
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Once bank approval is obtained, the beneficiary must submit the final application along with all necessary documents to the concerned office.
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Documents Required
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Aadhaar Card
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Land Document (Proof of Ownership)
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Bank Account Details
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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What is the objective of the scheme?
To support dairy development by providing financial assistance for establishing or expanding units that rear indigenous cows, thereby enhancing milk production and improving farmer incomes. -
What documents are required?
Applicants must provide their Aadhaar card, land ownership documents, and bank account details. -
Who is eligible?
Registered cow shelters, NGOs, and individual cow owners who rear indigenous cows and are registered with the Gau Samvardhan Board are eligible. -
How does the financing work?
75% of the project cost is financed through a bank loan, while the beneficiary contributes the remaining 25% as margin money. An interest subsidy at 5% per annum (capped at ₹25,000 per annum for 7 years) is provided on the loan portion. -
What is the minimum unit requirement?
The scheme is applicable for units with a minimum of 5 animals, with the minimum land requirement scaling up as the number of animals increases. -
How long must the unit be maintained?
The unit is generally expected to be maintained for a minimum of 3 years.