Cow an important part of India’s tradition, culture & rural economy: PM
Well-nourished children foundation of strong nation, says Modi
VRINDAVAN : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said cow was an important part of India’s tradition and culture and his government had taken several steps to improve the health of cattle. The Prime Minister was in Vrindavan town, which is associated with Lord Krishna, to serve food to underprivileged schoolchildren to mark the three billionth meal of the Akshaya Patra Foundation, a non-profit organization funded by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon). “We cannot repay the debt of cow’s milk. The cow is an important element of India’s tradition and culture,” Modi said.
The prime minister also said the cow was a vital element of the rural economy and the BJP-led government had launched schemes like the Rashtriya Gokul Mission and created the Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog.
“Cattle rearers can now get a loan of up to Rs 3 lakh as the banks have opened avenues for them,” he said.
VRINDAVAN: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the cow was an important part of India’s tradition and culture and his government had taken several steps to improve the health of cattle.
The prime minister was in Vrindavan town, which is associated with Lord Krishna, to serve food to underprivileged schoolchildren to mark the three billionth meal of the Akshaya Patra Foundation, a non-profit organization funded by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon).
Food was served to the children at the Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir campus.
“We cannot repay the debt of cow’s milk. The cow is an important element of India’s tradition and culture,” Modi said.
The prime minister also said the cow was a vital element of the rural economy and the BJP-led government had launched schemes like the Rashtriya Gokul Mission and created the Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog.
“Cattle rearers can now get a loan of up to Rs 3 lakh as the banks have opened avenues for them,” he said.
“We have decided to create the Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog in the budget and proposed Rs 500 crore under it to look after the cow and its progeny,” the prime minister said.
The Aayog will look after effective implementation of laws and welfare schemes for cows, interim finance minister Piyush Goyal had announced in the Budget earlier this month.
Modi acknowledged the work done in Mathura for cow conservation and highlighted the names of those who were awarded Padma Shri for their contribution and service to cow protection.
The prime minister was accompanied by governor Ram Naik and chief minister Adityanath. He highlighted the central government’s commitment to well being of mother and child.
Asserting that the central government was committed to ensuring quality food to children, he said well-nourished children were a key asset for country’s strength.
“It is matter of pride for me to serve the three billionth mid day meal to children after the first ‘thali’ served by former prime minister the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee. By providing healthy food to present-day children, we are laying the foundation of a strong nation,” he said. “The concept of mid-day meal was thought about in pre-independence India. Not much success could be attained in past regimes on different aspects, including vaccination, hygiene and well being of mother and child. However, in the past 55 months, the central government has been focusing on these issues,” he said.
“For us, vaccination was a priority issue. Five new vaccines were introduced. Now, a dozen vaccines are provided, including one for encephalitis which affects Uttar Pradesh the most,” Modi said in his address. He also said 3.40 crore pregnant women and 90 lakh children had been immunized under the Central government’s Mission Indradhanush.
“We are working towards the day when total immunisation will be a reality,” the prime minister said, adding that an American medical journal had acknowledged the immunisation campaign of India as amongst the 12 best practices worldwide.
Steering clear of political issues all through his speech, the prime minister enumerated various initiatives of the central government, including recent budgetary provision for direct cash transfer of Rs 6,000 per annum to small and marginal farmers.
Describing the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ as a success, the prime minister said at least three lakh lives were saved due to the campaign’s stress on cleanliness.
Cleanliness was ensured at the ongoing Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj too and the New York Times had applauded it, he said.
“In the past, Kumbh was known for ‘naga sadhus’, but this time cleanliness at the venue is the highlight,” the PM said in the presence of Adityanath.