In a bid to check traffic jams due to cattle blocking roads and accidents with loss of lives and property, the Gujarat Government has decided to provide land at token rates and financial assistance to cattle owners of eight municipal corporations to set up modern cattle farms 15-20 km away from the cities.
This was announced by Chief Minister Vijaybhai Rupani while disbursing Rs 6.77 crore as loans or assistance to 513 cattle owners at a function here on Wednesday held under the aegis of Gujarat Gopalak Vikas Nigam as part a scheme for all round development of rabari and bharwad community.
He said the Government will provide electricity, adequate water, cattle sheds and other amenities in the new settlements, besides assistance of up to Rs 3-lakh for each cattle farm to set up total 5,000 cattle camps. The Government has allocated Rs 140-crore under this head in this year’s budget.
Rupani said that our culture has for ages revered Gay (cow), Ganges, Gita and Girdhar and the cattle owners have been taking pretty good care of these four entities. It is time the cattle owners also supplement their income and add value to their profession through education and self-employment as part of the Government’s development mantra for ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’.
He appealed to all sections of the societies, voluntary organisations, educational and religious organisations to participate in the Government’s ‘Sujalam Sufalam Water Conservation Campain’ from May 1 to 31, 2018, deepening talavdis (ponds), cleansing and de-silting canals and rivers and tree plantation drive. He said the cattle owners should also join the campaign. It is to ensure they do not have to migrate to greener pastures in dry seasons.