UDHAMPUR, AUGUST 12: In a major step towards preserving and promoting Udhampur’s traditional Kalari cheese-making heritage, Deputy Commissioner Udhampur Minga Sherpa today inaugurated the Vrinda Kalari processing unit at Kotli Balan.

The unit, established under Vrinda Cooperative Private Limited, is a fully women-member cooperative aimed at transforming traditional household-level Kalari production into a formal, hygienic and market-ready enterprise.

The initiative has been conceptualised by Dr. Shagun Singh, IAS, Probationer of the 2025 batch, and funded through the Seed Funding Initiative of the Centre for Cooperatives and Livelihoods (CCL), Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, in collaboration with the District Administration, Udhampur.

The new unit introduces mechanised processing and improved hygiene standards, with the expected shelf life of Kalari cheese increasing to at least 21 days, compared with the traditionally short shelf life of the product.

The project seeks to establish Kalari as a formally branded and certified product, enabling its marketing beyond Udhampur to markets across the country. Vrinda Kalari will undertake both processing and branding under a single cooperative structure, creating a new model for women-led rural entrepreneurship.

Several government departments and schemes have supported the initiative, including the Departments of Animal Husbandry, Cooperatives and Employment Generation. Schemes such as the Integrated Dairy Development Scheme (IDDS), Mission Yuva and National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) have also been leveraged to strengthen the cooperative.

District officials have provided training and support to the women members in mechanisation, quality control, documentation and compliance, helping them transition from traditional home-based production to a structured enterprise.

Speaking at the inauguration, Deputy Commissioner Minga Sherpa highlighted the potential of Kalari to contribute to rural livelihoods, tourism and cultural promotion. He said the product has strong potential under the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative and aligns with the vision of building an Atma-Nirbhar rural economy.

Kalari, also known as Kaladi, already carries the Geographical Indication (GI) tag of Udhampur, reflecting its distinctive regional identity and heritage. With formal branding and cooperative marketing through Vrinda Kalari, the administration expects the product to gain wider recognition while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for rural women.

The initiative is being viewed as a potential model for formalising other traditional and artisanal food products across Udhampur and the wider Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.