Palanpur:  Speaking in annual general meeting of Banas Dairy, Chairman Shankarbhai Chaudhary today sharing the details on upcoming public hospital and medical college initiative said the hospital will belong to farmers and cattle rearers.

Chaudhary said, ‘Medical Council of India has given approval to only one 700-bed medical college that belongs to farmers and cattle rearers. The hospital will be tribute in true sense to Galbakaka who established Banas Dairy.’

He said the government has given Rs 25 crore land for just Re. 1. In addition to this the government will also give Rs 13.60 crore for operational expenses of hospital every year. Rs 10.50 crore grant to run the medical collage will also come from government, while revenue such as fees and charges collected will go to medical college. Moreover, the electricity bill of medical college and hospital will also be paid by the government.

Chaudhary said, the trustees have in a meeting taken a decision that the children of milk producers from Banaskantha district get 50% waiver in fee in medical college. If cattle rearer comes for treatment with mantri card, he/she will get complete waiver on case issuance, outdoor/indoor treatment, room/bed charges, operation, special doctor fees and medicine etc at Banas run hospital.

About proposed upcoming projects of Banas Dairy, Shankarbhai said new packaging stations will come up at Ranchi and Bhubaeshwar. 25 lakh litre dairy plant is planned this year. The dairy aims at achieving 1 core litre capacity by 2022 in a single district of Banaskantha. A 10 lakh litre dairy plant will be set up in Delhi-NCR region.  A 1500 mt cattle feed plant will come up. One pet bottle plant will come up at Faridabad. Existing Rs 350 crore cheese and whey plant’s capacity will be doubled at a cost of Rs 50-60 crore, utilising existing space which was created in advance for future expansion. A chilling centre will be set up at Radhanpur. Breed upgradation drive which was so far on project basis will be expanded to district level.

Chaudhary said, last three years were tough due to lowering rate of milk powder worldwide, however for the first time the State and Central governments have come to help and offered financial assistance for milk powder export.

DeshGujarat