The Manohar lal Khattar Government in Haryana has set a target to make the State stray cattle-free by August 15 this year.
The tagging of 89.3 per cent of the cattle in gaushalas (cow shelter) and nandishalas has so far been completed in Haryana. This was disclosed in a brainstorming session that the Chief Minister Manohar lal had held with his Good Governance Associates and Administrative Secretaries here.
During the session, it was informed that work to rehabilitate abandoned cattle is being undertaken in mission mode across the State, and 27,000 animals have already been accommodated in gaushalas. Community-driven model in this regard has been adopted in 22 districts, divided into two phases comprising 11 districts each.
While districts Nuh, Yamunanagar and Fatehabad have already been declared stray cattle-free, other districts in phase I would achieve this target by June 30, as 50 per cent of the 47,000 animals in this phase have already been rehabilitated.
In phase II, eight per cent of the 53,000 animals have so far been rehabilitated. Unique Identification Numbers are being assigned to each animal during tagging and gaushala managements and veterinarians are being encouraged to maintain computerised records of these animals.
The State Government has also decided to adopt a multi-pronged strategy to make gaushalas and nandishalas self-sustaining.
Taking stern view of abandonment of cattle, particularly cows, after they become unproductive, the Chief Minister directed to impose fines on those who leave their cattle to roam on the roads.
laying emphasis on the need to make gaushalas and nandishalas self-sustaining and gradually reducing the number of such facilities by encouraging the people not to abandon cows,. Manohar lal directed to generate income in gaushalas through sale of cattle by-products, and educate people about methods to generate income from cows even after they become unproductive.
He said that upkeep of cattle and marketing of their by-products should also be done through cooperative societies.
Manohar lal also directed to coordinate efforts for protection and conservation of cows through the Animal Welfare Board and district-level offices of Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Haryana.
He also asked to prepare a proposal for establishment of plant for processing of cattle by-products in the State.