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Himachal Govt proposes 'Gau Sewa' Aayog

Shimla/Dharamshala: In a move that may bring BJP's cow agenda at the central stage, Himachal Pradesh government on Wednesday moved a bill to set-up a statutory regulatory body aimed at protection and welfare of the cow and its progenies, including bull, Bullock, ox, and calves.

The Himachal Pradesh Gauvash Sanrakshan and Samvardhan bill 2018 was introduced in the state assembly by minister for animal husbandry and Panchayati Raj Virender Kanwar at Dharamshala, where the Vidhan Sabha was in session till December 15.

While introducing the Bill, the minister clarified that state was facing a serious problem of abandoned and stray cows roaming in the streets in pathetic conditions. There have been some gaushalas, Gausadans, Gauvigyan Kendras, cow sanctuaries, and community cow rearing centres functioning in the state but there is no regulatory body to look-after and oversee such places. "The gau sewa aayog proposed to be set-up will take care of protection, conservation and welfare of the animals, besides working on promoting indigenous breed of cows. It will also oversee implementation of the existing laws relating to cows taken for slaughtering, besides formulating policies and schemes for protection of the breed. The aayog will also give funding for preservation, conservation and welfare of the cows," he said.

In March this year, the state government had imposed a mandatory cow cess @ Rs one on each bottle of liquor sold in the state to raise funds for the cows. Later, the state assembly also passed a bill to give 15 percent of the temple funds in the state towards welfare schemes started for cows. A cow sanctuary was also recently set-up in the Rajgarh area of Solan to keep cows, which were found abandoned at various places in the state.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said it was the BJP government, which has really taken concrete steps to deal with the problem of abandoned cows in the state. "We will fund the NGOs…, Trusts and other organisations taking care of cows and have step-up gaushalas .The funding raised from the sale of liquor and part of the temple offerings will be utilised for welfare and protection of cows," he said.

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