The Rajasthan government has decided to revise the existing policy for the allocation of Saras dairy booths. A five-member committee has been constituted for this purpose following a meeting held at the state secretariat under the chairmanship of Animal Husbandry, Gopalan, Dairy and Devasthan Minister Joraram Kumawat.
The revision aims to address procedural gaps in the current policy and improve implementation, particularly in light of the ongoing expansion of booth allocations across the state.
The newly-formed committee includes officials from the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Department, Department of Local Bodies, Municipal Corporation, The Rajasthan Cooperative Dairy Federation (RCDF), and Jaipur Dairy Union. The Committee has been tasked with drafting a proposal based on the discussions and suggestions made during the meeting. The policy revision is expected to streamline the allocation process and address logistical and administrative challenges observed in the current framework.
During the meeting, Urban Development and Housing Minister Jhabar Singh Khara and other officials suggested amendments to the Dairy Booth Allocation Policy 2021. These included changes to the application submission process, location selection mechanisms, and eligibility criteria for applicants.
It was proposed that booth applications be submitted directly to district dairy unions and that the booth locations be selected and finalised by a Committee formed by RCDF or the concerned district dairy union.
Further, there was a proposal to prioritise applicants residing within a five-kilometre radius of the proposed booth site and to allow family members of currently serving military personnel to apply under the revised policy.
The RCDF has also been directed to identify potential locations for opening new Saras parlours in the state. These locations are expected to include areas near government hospitals, medical colleges, educational institutions, bus stands, and railway stations. The move comes in the context of the Budget announcement for FY25, which included a provision for setting up 2,500 new Saras dairy booths across Rajasthan.
According to the department, a total of 11,536 online applications have been received for 2,000 of the proposed booths. Of these, 7,861 have been verified and approved by RCDF and forwarded to the respective local bodies.
The allocation of these booths, along with 500 pending applications from previous years, will be completed through a lottery system. The Committee will oversee the finalisation of allocations and related procedures.
