State govt offers subsidy to meat shopkeepers

PATNA: State industries minister Bhim Singh on Monday urged meat shopowners to avail the subsidy offered by his department for modernization of their shops. "We provide 50% funding for modernization of meat shops but I'm sad to say we haven't got a single proposal for the same," the minister said here at a press meet. 

Under the National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP), the state government has given a subsidy of Rs 5 crore each to M/s Al Samir Export Private Limited, Araria, and M/s Al Karim Export Private Limited, Siwan, for establishing abattoirs and meat processing units at a cost of Rs 44 crore and Rs 50 crore, respectively. "We provide 35% subsidy up to a maximum of Rs 5 crore for meat processing units in the state and have granted the same to two companies." Singh said. 

Anyone engaged in the operation of meat shops will be eligible for financial assistance under the NMFP scheme. 

The grant can be availed for machinery, equipment and mechanical items but will not include cost of land and land development and consultancy fee. 

The minister claimed the focus of the government was not just on promoting the industry but also at maintaining hygiene at their sites. "Even for local butcher shops, the department gives 50% grants up to a maximum of Rs 5 lakh for modernization work such as wall and floor tiling, exhaust and ventilation, drainage system and refrigerators. The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, also provides for the same, but none has approached us yet to avail the benefit," Singh said. 

It may be mentioned here that the Patna high court has time and again directed for a crackdown on sale of non-vegetarian items in the open, but the order is yet to be implemented.