Soon, hold family functions at ‘gaushalas’ for free
LUCKNOW: If you are an ardent cow-lover and also looking for a venue to organise a family function, the UP Gau Sewa Ayog has come up with an offer you may surely like.
Be it a birthday party, marriage anniversary, family get-together or matchmaking meeting, the Ayog will provide space for it in its upcoming gaushalas (cow shelters) being constructed in all 75 districts of UP. There is no charge for using the space.
“We have launched the campaign to motivate people to visit cow shelters and celebrate family functions there,” chairman of Ayog Rajeev Gupta said.
“The aim is to associate people with cow service along with celebrating family or social functions,” he said.
Gupta said the Ayog will also urge people to adopt a cow, calf or bull. “Those willing to adopt a cattle will have to deposit Rs 11,000 per annum at the cow shelter concerned,” he said.
According to Gupta, the urban development department has released Rs 40 crore to set up the cow shelters in the districts of the state.
“Various government departments like animal husbandry, agriculture, panchayati raj, forest, minor irrigation, rural development and revenue have been directed to work for the establishment of cow shelters. The campaign will promote cow protection and generate employment as well,” he said.
To resolve the issue of stray cattle in the state, chief minister Yogi Adityanath had, in a meeting in December last year, directed officers of 16 municipal corporations to set up cow shelters to protect bovines.
The CM said a cow protection committee would be set up in the districts under the chairman ship of the district magistrate concerned. “After the CM’s instruction, the Ayog started working on a plan for cow protection. According to an estimate, there are about 10,000 stray cattle in each district. In seven districts of Bundelkhand region, the number is around 20,000-25,000,” Gupta said.
He added that besides municipal corporations, nagar palika parishads, nagar panchayats and zila panchayats had also been directed to set up cow shelters in their respective areas. “MLAs and MLCs have also been urged to contribute funds for cow shelters from their MLA Area Development Fund. The state government is also working to generate fund from various central government schemes,” Gupta said.
“The anti-land mafia force has been directed to free the grazing grounds encroached by land sharks. The Ayog has asked the forest and irrigation departments to plant grass, bushes and trees that cattle graze,” he said. According to Gupta, the Ayog has also directed the regional ayurvedic officers and doctors in ayurvedic colleges to prescribe ‘panchagavya’ -- a medicine prepared with cow urine, milk, dung and curd -- to patients. The Ayog has also approached religious leaders to urge people to cremate their dead with ‘dungs cakes’ rather than using wood, he said. “It will not only promote cattle conservation but also protect trees. District officials have been directed to hire labourers under MNREGA to construct enclosures, sheds, paved path and grazing areas in cow shelters,” he said. Gupta added that the Ayog has urged investors to set up cow dung-based biogas and CNG units as well as ‘gonyl’ (phenyl) processing units manufactured with bovine urine.