In a first, Milk ATM installed in Pulwama

PULWAMA — For the first time in Jammu and Kashmir, the Department of Animal Husbandry has come up with a Milk ATM in Pulwama town.

The machine has been installed in main town Pulwama near Rajpora Chowk and would function round the clock in the town, so that no shortage of milk is faced by the locals.

Chief Animal Husbandry Officer Pulwama, Dr Mohammed Hussain Wani and Technical Officer, Dr Ehtisham Hussian said that the department under Integrated Dairy Development Scheme (IDDS) have helped Shabir Ahmad Wagay, a resident of Pahoo Pulwama to install a milk ATM in the town.

They said that under the scheme, the vendor has got a 50 percent subsidy on all dairy processing equipment from the department besides other equipment for the development of the milk ATM.

“Since Pulwama is the leading district in milk production in the valley, so we were looking for having better facilities in the town and with the installation of milk ATM, there will be no shortage of milk in the town and people can get pure milk on the pattern of ATM,” they said.

The officials said there are around 44 registered dairy farms in the district run by educated youth with a capacity of around 20 cows each who are giving around 30 litres of milk each, thus supplying unadulterated milk.

They said that milk ATM which has been installed has a capacity of 500 litres and a bulk milk cooler is being attached with the ATM which keeps milk at 4°C.

“In the coming days, a mobile milk ATM will also be installed in the district along with a chilling processing part with it so that people can get pure milk at their doorsteps,” they said.

Shabir Ahmad thanked the Animal Husbandry Department, especially the Chief Animal Husbandry Officer Dr Mohammed Hussain Wani, for support and guidance.

“The Department has given me a 50 percent subsidy for both milk ATM and a Bulk Milk Cooler (BMC) which is a large storage tank used for cooling,” Shabir said.

He said that with BMC, milk can remain fresh for three days and people can get milk on the card as well as on coins.

“If you will give a Rs 10 coin, the machine will provide milk of the same amount. And on the card which can be recharged in advance, people can get milk as the terms and conditions signed there,” he said.

Shabir said to let people know about the milk ATM, over 250 litres of milk were distributed free on Monday, while the machine will start functioning properly from Tuesday.