For the protection of cows in Haryana, the State populace could soon be paying five percent ‘cow cess’ on movie tickets and an additional fee while booking banquet halls for functions.
The Haryana Gau Seva Aayog, set up by the BJP-led State Government to effectively implement Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015, has proposed to impose ‘cow cess’ on movie tickets and donation of `2100 be given for Gau Seva for the functions organised in banquet halls of the State.
Bhani Ram Mangla, chairman, Haryana Gau Sewa Aayog, while talking to the mediapersons in Gurgaon on Friday said that the Aayog has proposed imposition of 5 per cent ‘cow cess’ on movie tickets to generate revenue for the protection of cows.
To generate revenue for the protection of cows, the Aayog has also proposed diversion of donations from Government-managed temples in the State. Besides, the Aayog has also suggested levying `1 on each bag of wheat, paddy and other crops bought from the State's mandis.
Mangla said that it is also under consideration to constitute Gau Rakshak Task Force on the pattern of Home Guards so that the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015 could be strictly enforced in the State.
The Act which came into force last year provides for a rigorous imprisonment ranging from three years to ten years for cow slaughter. It also provides for a fine from `30,000 to `1 lakh.
The State Government has already appointed an IPS officer Bharti Arora to supervise the functioning of teams constituted across the State to check slaughter and smuggling of cows.
Mangla said that three teams have been constituted for the protection of cows which include MlAs and officers of municipal corporations, district administration and the police in the State.
Apart from this, the State Government has constituted special teams, in which 62 gazetted officers and 240 other rank police personnel have been included. A 24-hour helpline number 8284030455 was also launched recently for people to report incidents of cow smuggling or slaughter.
Under a special campaign to keep a check on stray cattle in the State, the State Government has decided to impose a fine of `5100 on those who carelessly leave their cows and buffaloes to “graze” on the streets and `150 per day would be charged for fodder.
At present, there are more than 1.17 lakh stray cows in Haryana.
Notably, as many as 307 cases have been registered between January 1 and April 30 this year under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, 1960 in the state. Also, 85 cases have been registered under the Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955. During this period, 191 cows have been rescued and 446 persons have been arrested in the State.
Cow slaughter and smuggling is a sensitive issue across Haryana, as the animal is held in high respect and locals have formed several “Gau Rakshak Dals” to keep a vigil on those involved in the crime.
Recently, a video had also surfaced where “Gau Rakshaks” were seen forcibly feeding cow dung to two alleged beef smugglers in Faridabad.
In the past, numerous incidents of vehicles being set on fire over suspicions that cows were being transported to slaughter houses in them have been reported from Haryana.