The Madhya Pradesh Government is set to launch a new scheme to provide cows at subsidised rates to beneficiaries of its flagship Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana, aiming to boost milk production while strengthening women’s economic empowerment. Announcing the proposal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Animal Husbandry and Dairying Lakhan Patel said he has requested Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to extend the benefit to women enrolled under the scheme, with a formal announcement expected soon.
Under the Ladli Behna Yojana, women currently receive ₹1,500 per month in financial assistance. Patel said the initiative would help beneficiaries generate sustainable livelihoods through dairy farming while supporting the state’s ambition to become a major milk production hub.
According to Centre data released in November 2025, Madhya Pradesh is India’s third-largest milk-producing state, after Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The proposal, however, drew criticism from the opposition, with senior Congress leader Manak Agarwal describing it as an election-driven gimmick and alleging that earlier promises under the Ladli Behna scheme had not been fully implemented.
Government officials maintained that since its launch in June 2023, the scheme has significantly improved women’s financial security, decision-making and economic participation. As of April 2026, the state had transferred ₹55,926.51 crore to 1.22 crore women beneficiaries through 35 monthly instalments, underscoring the programme’s scale and its role in supporting rural livelihoods. (The New Indian Express)
Source: Dairynews7x7 3 July, 2026 Read full story here
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