After enacting a stringent Act to stop cow slaughter in the state, the BJP Government in Haryana in its ongoing mission to protect the cow is likely to constitute a Gau Rakshak Task Force.
A day after appointing an IPS officer Bharti Arora to supervise the functioning of teams constituted across the State to check slaughter and smuggling of cows, the State Government on Wednesday reviewed various initiatives implemented for the protection of cow in the state.
Under a special campaign to keep a check on stray cattle in the state, the State Government has decided to impose a fine of Rs 5100 on those who carelessly leave their cows and buffaloes to “graze” on the streets and Rs 150 per day would be charged for fodder.
Chairman, Haryana Gau Seva Ayog, Bhani Ram Mangla while talking to the mediapersons on Wednesday said that a special campaign has been launched by the Haryana Government to keep a check on stray cows.
More than 200 stray cows in district Faridabad have so far been sent to the Gaushalas. In case their owners stake claim on these cows, they will be charged Rs 5100 as fine and Rs 150 per day for fodder, said he.
At present, there are more than 1.17 lakh stray cows in Haryana.
On the measures recommended by the Aayog for the protection of cows, Mangla said that it has been considered 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 Rs 30,000 to Rs one lakh.
The Gau Seva Aayog has also suggested that donation of Rs 2100 be given to the Ayog for Gau Seva on the occasion of marriage or any other functions organized in banquet halls of the state, said he adding that the Gau Seva Ayog is facing financial crunch.
On the incidents of cow smuggling in the state, he said that the cow smuggling in Yamunanagar, Panipat, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Gurgaon and Rewari districts is posing a challenge for the State Government.
To act strictly against the miscreants, special workshops would soon be organized in all districts of the state to apprise the officers of police and district administration with minute details of Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015, said he.
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.
In the past, numerous incidents of vehicles being set on fire over suspicions that cows were being transported to slaughterhouses in them have been reported from Haryana.
Recently, a video had surfaced where “Gau Rakshaks” were seen forcibly feeding cow dung to two alleged beef smugglers in Faridabad.
On being asked about the incident, Mangla said few anti-social elements are active in the name of “Gau Raksh Dal” in Haryana, which is not appropriate. Some Non Government Organizations (NGOs) are also doing the same. All these would be investigated and those found unlawful would invite stern action against themselves, he added.
To put an end to cow slaughter and smuggling in the state, Haryana Government has constituted special teams in which 62 gazetted officers and 240 other rank police personnel have been included. Apart from this, a 24-hour helpline number 8284030455 has been launched for people to report incidents of cow smuggling or slaughter.
On getting the information about such incidents, the team of police would reach the spot within half-an-hour and arrest the accused, said the chairman, Gau Seva Ayog.
Giving details of various initiatives for the protection of cows, he said that it has been decided to set up ‘gau abhyaranyas’ (cow sanctuaries) at five places in the state. A proposal has been received to set up such sanctuaries over an area of 200 acres in Panipat and 50 to 100 acres in Hisar, Sirsa and Bhiwani. Cow sanctuaries would be set up in each district in the state in a phased manner, he added.
Apart from this, a scheme has been prepared to make the Gau-shalas self-reliant. It is also being contemplated to give Gau-Charan land to Gaushalas so that the Gaushalas could take fodder from there, said he.
He added that the State Government has also planned that biogas based electricity would be produced in the Gaushalas in public private partnership mode. Apart from this, organic manure and phenyl would be prepared from cow urine, said he.
last year, Cabinet Minister Anil Vij had pitched for declaring cow as the national animal and had also launched an online poll on the issue.