The Manohar lal Khattar Government in Haryana is all set to bring about innovative changes for the protection of cows and develop model gaushalas in the State.
BJP-led Haryana Government, which has been doing everything to pamper the bovine species, has now chalked out guidelines for the functioning of gaushalas (cow shelters) and make them self sustainable and economically viable.
Gearing up to develop model gaushalas, the State Government has formulated standard operated procedures (SOPs), which has to be adopted by all gaushalas for respectable upkeep of cattle. The SOPs have been designed following Government’s observation that the management system of gaushalas is not on scientific lines and the condition of some of the gaushalas is miserable.
Besides ensuring that every cattle is given an identity tag on arrival at a gaushala and record is maintained thereof, the SOPs also proposes opening of separate sale counter for the sale of indigenous cow A2 milk and A2 milk value added milk products like A2 dahi, A2 khoya, A2 paneer, A2 kheer etc at these gaushalas.
Haryana has around 431 gaushalas including about 390 registered ones.
“Most of the gaushalas are managed by private trusts/NGOs and it has been observed that condition of some of the gaushalas is not good. Considering this, certain minimum standards for the upkeep of cattle in the gaushalas have been chalked out by the State Government,” said a senior official of Haryana Animal Husbandry Department while talking to The Pioneer.
He said that the guidelines also aimed at evolving a standard pattern of infrastructure to make gaushalas self-sustaining and economically viable in the State.
The State Government has planned to make gaushalas a centre of major economic activity generating income by marketing milk and milk products, he added.
The Government has invited suggestions from stakeholders to further improve the draft of SOPs. Once finalised, the SOPs have to be adopted by the gaushalas, said the official.
The guidelines has proposed that the cows would be segregated into five categories including milch cows, heifers, pregnant cows, non-pregnant and dry cows and
weak, infirm & blind cows and would be housed in respective cow sheds in gaushalas.
To decongest and avoid over crowing in gaushalas, it proposed distributing the bullocks to poor, needy farmers for agriculture purposes and healthy cows to the people with right credentials so that they can be looked after even if they have stopped giving milk.
The gaushalas would also have to depute a resident vet staff, security guard at the main gate at all times and an official to inspect fodder served to cattle besides inspecting the food items brought by the visitors on regular basis.
The SOP also laid down the guidelines for serving adequate food to bovine species, providing spacious environment, maintain full details of cattle, fodder record, ensuring regular health checkups and maintaining cleanliness of the gaushalas.
To make the gaushalas self sustainable, the Government has planned production of organic manure, herbal pesticides, bio-gas, bio-pesticides, cow dung cakes for sale. Cattle breeding programme with A-2 bulls andA2 cows to conserve pure Indian breeds like Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Tharparkar and Kankrej is also suggested.
Use of solar and wind power as also water harvesting techniques, installation of plants for separation of methane gas and CO2 is also recommended for the gaushalas in the SOP.
Notably, the State Government has started the ear tagging exercise to cover cattle in around 431 gaushalas in Haryana. As many as 3.50 lakh ear tags of yellow and pink colour have been procured by the Haryana Government for carrying out the process and more than 2 lakh cattle have already been tagged in the State.
Known for its love for the cow, the BJP led State Government has also planned to construct 40 cow sanctuaries in a phased manner to accommodate more than 1.18 lakh stray cattle in Haryana.
Among various initiatives of State Government for cow protection includes issuing identity cards to gau rakshaks, appointing a senior IPS officer to monitor cases of cow smuggling in the state and banning consumption of beef.
Haryana Government had last year enforced Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gau Samvardhan Act 2015 making cow slaughter punishable with rigorous imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh.
A fresh census of cattle in the state is also proposed to be conducted in the year 2017.