Prayagraj: At an age when many women step back from active work, 60‑year‑old Shakuntala Singh of Shuklapur village in Meja has built a thriving cattle‑rearing enterprise, earning over Rs 1 lakh a month from dairy farming.Belonging to a financially stable family — her husband is a govt contractor and her children are economically independent — Shakuntala nonetheless chose to pursue cattle rearing, turning it into a profitable livelihood.She began her journey in 2022 with six Sahiwal cows. Today, she owns a herd of 35 indigenous‑breed cows.“I started with the belief that caring for cows is a virtuous act. Over time, it became my passion. I now look after 35 cows, all of whom I consider part of my family. The herd produces around 300 litres of milk daily, generating a monthly income of about ₹1.25 lakh,” Shakuntala said.She has now emerged as one of the leading livestock breeders in the region. Shakuntala’s son, Devesh Pratap, assists her in managing the business. Additionally, she has provided employment to over a dozen individuals from the village.Her expansion was supported by state govt’s Nandini Krishak Samriddhi Yojana, implemented under the Nand Baba Milk Mission.Chief veterinary officer (Prayagraj) Dr SN Yadav said until 2023, Shakuntala owned only six cows, but her determination drove her to scale up operations.“At the beginning of the 2023–24 financial year, she applied under the Nandini Krishak Samriddhi Yojana to expand her cattle‑rearing activities. She was selected through a lottery process and received Rs 21.5 lakh in govt assistance. The funds were used to develop infrastructure for the dairy enterprise,” Yadav said.
