Amul is set to get its biggest yogurt facility yet, with the foundation stone laid in Kolkata on July 19. Amit Shah shared the update on social media platform X, saying the plant will be built at a cost of around ₹700 crore and will use modern technology. Backed by this scale of investment, the facility is being seen as a major step not just for West Bengal but for the country's cooperative dairy system as a whole.
Plant Capacity and Benefit to Farmers
According to Shah, the facility will process more than 10 lakh litres of milk every day. That scale of processing will make it Amul's largest yogurt production plant to date. The direct beneficiaries are expected to be around 1.20 lakh cattle rearers and dairy farmers, since higher demand from the plant means more milk will be procured from them, pushing up their earnings. For small and medium farmers linked to the cooperative dairy sector, the project is being viewed as a significant opportunity, as it should increase demand for their produce, ease their access to markets and bring more stability to milk prices. There is also an expectation of new jobs and income sources opening up in rural areas, since a plant of this size will need local people for collecting, transporting and processing milk.
Cooperative Projects and e-RCS
Shah's post also referred to something called e-RCS, along with a link to further details. Reports indicate that alongside the yogurt plant, several other cooperative sector projects were launched during the same event. The move is being read as part of a broader effort to strengthen the cooperative movement and expand the footprint of dairy and other cooperative institutions.
What Shah Said
Reports say Shah described the project at the event as a gift to West Bengal from Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the party's win in the state. He presented it as a major investment in the cooperative and dairy sectors and said such projects would help strengthen the state's rural economy.
About Kolkata
Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal and one of India's major metropolitan cities. Located on the eastern bank of the Hooghly river, it sits around 80 kilometres from the Bangladesh border and about 180 kilometres from the coast of the Bay of Bengal. It is regarded as India's second-largest metropolis and its fifth-largest port. Centuries of history and a colonial-era legacy have made it a major centre of education and culture, earning it the nickname 'City of Joy'. Amul's new plant in this city is expected to further strengthen the presence of the cooperative dairy sector in eastern India.
Public Reaction
Reactions to Shah's post were mixed. A number of users welcomed the investment in the dairy sector, the use of modern technology and the fresh opportunities for farmers, and hoped the benefits would actually reach the ground level. Some simply offered congratulations, while others used the moment to raise unresolved local issues, such as delays in metro rail projects in their area. Overall, the post drew both support for the initiative and comments highlighting local grievances in large numbers.
