Lodhran: The Livestock Department received over 6700 applications under the ‘Transfer of Livestock Assets to Widows, Divorced Women’ project to empower rural women across the district.
Deputy Director Livestock, Dr Waqar Aslam, told reporter here on Sunday said that one cattle heifer or buffalo heifer would be given to each woman free of cost for one year. He said that the animals would be given to eligible women through a draw after verification.
Widows and divorced women with a maximum age of 55 years and not having animals from any government scheme during the last five years were eligible for the scheme. He said that 11000 animals would be distributed in 13 districts across South Punjab with 913 animals for each district. “The duration of the program is two years and half of animals out of 913 for district Lodhran would be given to eligible people this year and the rest of the animals will be distributed next year,” he added.
The women would be bound to take care of the animals for one year while the l
ivestock department would provide artificial insemination, vaccination and other services. The purpose of the project is to empower rural women financially so that they could run their businesses and earn a livelihood.
Likewise, registration for the Kissan Livestock Cards project is also underway as over 1500 applications have been received so far. He said that the door-to-door verification has also been started.
Farmers will be eligible for interest-free loans ranging from Rs135,000 to Rs 270,000 for a period of five months. The loan is designed to support farmers with five to ten calves or heifers. Applicants must be residents of Punjab and possess a valid National Identity Card with registered, active mobile phone SIM in the applicant’s name.
Farmers with more than ten animals are also eligible, but loan assistance will be limited to ten animals.
The loan will be disbursed monthly and could only be used via the Livestock Card at Bank of Punjab’s approved feed dealers. Livestock farmers could use it to
buy animal feed, such as silage, vanda and mineral mixtures.
The Punjab government will bear any interest or additional charges, ensuring the entire loan remains interest-free for farmers, he concluded.