AU awaits nod for ‘Kamdhenu Chair’ on campus
PRAYAGRAJ: Allahabad University (AU) is planning to establish a ‘Kamdhenu Chair’ on its campus and the AU administration has also prepared a proposal and sent it to the union ministry of education for approval. Once the approval comes, work on it would start in the university, informed AU PRO, Jaya Kapoor.
Through the new chair, students will be taught about the native breeds of cows and also the rural population would be helped to develop new skills and learn about technological advancement in the field rearing cows and methods to increase productivity from them, they added.
The idea for establishing this chair at AU was initiated by the vice-chancellor, Prof Sangita Srivastava following her participation at the national webinar addressed by national Kamdhenu Commission Chairman, Vallabhbhai Kathiria.
The webinar was about setting up ‘Kamdhenu Peeth’ in universities in collaboration with the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and American Intercontinental University (AIU).
“This Chair would serve as a bridge between urban technological enhancements and proper care of our ‘national treasure’ by disseminating the know-how to our rural folks who need the information and skills. The research and knowledge transfer would be a boon for the cow population in the rural area of not only Prayagraj but also of the neighbouring districts”, said AU VC, Prof Sangita Srivastava.
“There is a need to educate the youth about the agricultural, health, social and environmental importance of indigenous breeds of cows”, she added.
The government has begun to explore the potential of cows and the several products which cows help produce. In such situation research is needed along with providing a platform to bring out the science related to indigenous cows and our education system. It is here that such a chair would be handy, added the VC.
AU would be first such institution in the country which has taken the initiative to establish the ‘Kamadhenu Chair’, said AU PRO, Jaya Kapoor.
A department at AU would be entrusted with the responsibility of running the activities under this chair and the name of the department for this would be decided by AU administration in coming days.
UGC would also be giving a grant of Rs 1.5 crore for the chair. Through this, efforts will be made to save old cows in rural areas. The volunteers/students will also provide fodder and medicines to the cows, which would be on a subsidized rate. Apart from this, the rate of milk will be determined in the interest of farmers. The conception of cows will be ensured free of cost.