Chennai, Oct 28:
The Tamil Nadu government has issued an order allocating Rs 57 crore for its scheme to distribute free milch cows to 10,000 eligible women in rural areas during the 2026-27 financial year.
The scheme was announced in the State Budget for 2026-27 with the aim of improving rural women’s livelihoods and increasing milk production. The government said the allocation would enable the implementation of the programme during the current financial year.
Under the scheme, each beneficiary will receive a healthy, high-yielding crossbred cow capable of producing at least eight litres of milk a day. The government expects the animals to provide families with a regular source of income and create a long-term asset for rural households.
The initiative is intended to increase milk production, strengthen dairy cooperative institutions and encourage scientific dairy-farming practices. It is also expected to improve household nutrition and support women’s economic empowerment through a more stable income.
According to the government, each cow could give birth to three or four calves over five years under proper care and management, potentially adding to the family’s assets and future earnings. The scheme forms part of the State’s efforts to support rural livelihoods while further expanding Tamil Nadu’s dairy sector.