Setting up Industries is costly, so domesticate cows: Tripura CM Biplab Deb

November 5: In a latest bouncer, Biplab Deb, Tripura Chief Minister, on Sunday announced the state government will be launching a scheme to distribute cows among 5000 families in order to combat malnutrition and generate employment in the state. “Today I am announcing that I will start the domestication of cows at the Chief Minister’s residence along with my family and will consume its milk. This will also inspire people of Tripura to do the same and will help fight malnutrition,” said Mr. Deb.

Speaking at an executive committee meeting of Tripura Pradesh Krishak Morcha on Sunday, Deb said 5,000 farmers across the state would be given cows by facilitating bank loans for them. Interest on such loans will be paid by the state government. Biplab, who had earlier insisted on rearing cows as means of employment for the youth, said that unlike setting up big industries in which “one has to invest Rs 10,000 crore for employing 2000 people”, giving 10,000 cows to 5,000 families will help people start earning in “6 months”.

Deb said the project would take flight from December. Work has already started and the subject will be soon raised for approval in the state cabinet, he said. “This project will help to solve unemployment in the state to some extent. It will go a long way in fulfilling demand for milk in the state. We shall be able to combat malnutrition by it as well,” Deb was quoted as saying in the press statement.

CM Biplab Deb had been in the news earlier for a series of controversial comments. He had earlier advised the youth of Tripura to not to waste their crucial time and, instead, milk cows and run pan stalls for livelihood. In April this year, Biplab had said, “There should be a cow in every house. Why run after netas for government jobs? Milk is being sold at Rs 50 per litre. Graduates should get cows and milk them to earn Rs 10 lakh in 10 years instead of running after political parties.”

Biplab Deb earlier stirred controversy when he claimed that the internet and satellite were not something new but existed since the Mahabharata era, and continued to stand by his claim. He also once threatened to “cut off the nails” of those who criticized his government and poked into his administration’s policies. The Chief Minister had earlier also been in the news for criticising model-actor Diana Hayden.