The Uttar Pradesh government has started online registration of cow shelters (gaushalas) and so far 582 gaushalas have been registered in the state, an official of the Animal Husbandry Department said.
“This aims to monitor cow shelter houses to ensure better protection and conservation of cows and stray and abandoned cattle, which has been one of the priorities of this government,” the spokesman said here on Saturday.
Stray cattle have been a threat to the crops and a major cause of road accidents in Uttar Pradesh.
The government has selected Bundelkhand for the initiative to promote natural farming through shelter homes for cows. At present, natural manure is being produced at 1,108 animal shelters in the form of cow dung and urine and being provided to the farmers of Bundelkhand to take to natural farming for production of chemical-free, high quality organic food.
Furthermore, the district magistrates are identifying interested farmers/livestock owners and other persons who are ready to raise the destitute cows. They are being given an allowance of Rs 30 per day for the maintenance of the bovine, and the amount is transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries on a monthly basis. The beneficiaries are not allowed to abandon the cattle or sell them at any cost.
The Yogi Adityanath government’s comprehensive scheme for sheltering cows is helping a large number of poor people, farmers, mothers and infants. The Animal Husbandry Department also ensures that milk is available to the mothers and infants of the farmers rearing the stray cows.
According to a report, Uttar Pradesh currently has 6,222 cow shelters housing 8.55 lakh homeless cattle.