Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah Friday inaugurated the second phase of the Sabar Dairy (Amul Plant) at IMT Rohtak. The event, attended by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and several dignitaries, showcased the government’s push towards rural prosperity through the cooperative movement and indigenous industries like khadi. In his address, CM Saini highlighted the transformative impact of the Rs 325 crore expansion of the Sabar Dairy, originally operational since 2015. With this upgrade, the Rohtak facility has become the country’s largest producer of curd, buttermilk, and yoghurt, serving the growing demand of Haryana, Delhi-NCR, and northern India. “This plant is not just about dairy products – it’s about empowering our farmers, creating thousands of jobs, and energising the rural economy,” he said. Saini credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mantra of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity through Cooperation) and the establishment of the Ministry of Cooperation in 2021 for revitalising the cooperative sector. He noted the introduction of the National Cooperation Policy 2025 as a milestone reform focused on transparency, technology, and inclusivity. Haryana, already ranked third in the country for milk production, produces 122.2 lakh tonnes annually with a per capita milk availability of 1,105 grams per day. Union Minister Amit Shah hailed the expansion of the dairy plant as a milestone for Haryana. The plant now produces 150 metric tons of curd, 10 metric tons each of yoghurt and sweets, and three metric tons of buttermilk daily. Shah revealed that India’s milk production has jumped from 140 million tons in 2014 to 249 million tons today, while per capita milk availability rose from 124 grams to 471 grams. “The dairy sector has grown by 70 per cent in the last 11 years, and this plant will benefit lakhs of farmers across Haryana,” Shah said. He emphasised that the government aims to connect every village to the cooperative movement by 2029 and announced plans to double the plant’s capacity within a year. The day also saw Shah and CM Saini attend the Khadi Mahotsav at Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak. There, Shah distributed toolkits and Rs 301 crore in margin money under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) for local artisans and MSMEs. Shah highlighted that Khadi, once neglected, has grown into a Rs 1.70 lakh crore industry under PM Modi’s leadership – up from Rs 33,000 crore in just over a decade. “Khadi is not just tradition – it is now fashion and a key to self-reliance,” he said, urging citizens to embrace Swadeshi products. CM Saini echoed the sentiment, stating that khadi and village industries are now vital components of Haryana’s journey towards becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2047. He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to Modi’s ‘Vocal for Local’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives. Shah and Saini also visited an exhibition based on the three new criminal laws at the Mela Ground near Brahma Sarovar in Kurukshetra. Shah was shown how Dial 112 responds in Haryana, how investigations are conducted upon reaching the crime scene, and how police stations function in the state. Shah also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects worth Rs 825 crore across 12 districts. Speaking in Kurukshetra, Saini said, “Haryana is a leading state in the country, which has implemented all three new laws in a short time. Our government has fully empowered the Haryana Police to implement these laws. We have trained all officers and staff for this purpose and used modern technology in the implementation. All investigating officers have been trained in using apps as well as audio and video tools. We’ve also fully arranged for the use of technology in recording witness statements. Around 45 per cent of police officers and staff are now connected through video conferencing. We’ve increased the number of staff and purchased some modern equipment. The number of forensic labs has also been increased for investigation purposes. Now, there is no need to visit the police station to register an FIR – it can now be done online.”
