What Indian cows really need

changes, such as reduced land for pastoral use, reduced need for bulls for agriculture, and lack of a policy specifically to conserve these breeds of cows.

Local breeds are likely to weather droughts, heat and be able to feed of locally available feedstock better than other breeds and cross-breeds.

Besides, they are part of India’s rich generic pool and preserving them, along with other types of bio-diversity, is protecting our heritage.

This I see as the first step to protecting cows — to respecting their diversity and ensuring it survives. What is the role of a gau rakshak (cow protector) here? I believe it is only one to take upon themselves the task of lovingly nurturing and bringing up one or more cow breeds, ensuring they proliferate and their generic pool is conserved. That is the only type of gau rakshak our cows need. Anything else is irrelevant and irresponsible. NEWDELHI: The standing committee of the Inter-state Council that met here on Sunday after a gap of 12 years, discussed the use of discretionary powers by governors during government formation, their eligibility criteria and cooling off period for retired bureaucrats and judges to be appointed as governors.

“We discussed about the role of governors. Many states felt that a governor should be qualified, non-partisan and above politics,” said finance minister of Andhra Pradesh Y Ramakrishnudu, who represented CM N Chandrababu Naidu.

He added that state wanted governors to not have a say in politics. The Andhra finance minister also suggested that there should be time limit of one month for governor to provide assent to a bill or making a reference to the President. He also said there should be eligibility criteria for selection of governors.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh chaired the meeting.