IG to be CEO of Gau Seva Aayog

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 1

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has cleared the name of Inspector General of Police Shrikant Jadhav to look after the welfare of cows and functioning of Gaushalas.

Jadhav is presently posted as IG of the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) in Madhuban and will take charge as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Haryana Gau Seva Aayog. Orders of his appointment are likely to be issued soon.

Sources said a religious leader considered close to Khattar, who was associated with International Gita Mahotsav held in Kurukshetra in November last, had played a major role in Jadhav’s appointment.

Bhani Ram Mangla, chairman of the aayog, said the move had been initiated by the government.

This will be for the first time that an IPS officer will take charge as the CEO of the Gau Seva Aayog. Earlier, the Khattar government had assigned DIG Bharti Arora with an additional charge as the head of the Cow Protection Police Task Force, which was essentially a policing job to check cow slaughter and cruelty against the animal. She was not appointed as the CEO of the aayog.

The aayog works for the implementation of laws with respect to prohibition of slaughter, and welfare of cows, supervise work of the institutions for scientific use of cow dung and urine, provide financial assistance to deserving institutions which are engaged in the welfare of cows, to make people aware about the economic benefits of cows and arrange competitions to promote such awareness.

Sources said the Haryana Gau Seva Aayog Act, 2015, does not have the provision for the post of CEO, but the Khattar government has decided to amend the Act.

Jadhav has a history of working for the welfare of stray cattle during his postings in the field. He first launched Mission Stray Cattle in Hisar in 2011 when he held the post of Superintendent of Police and later followed it in Jhajjar, Panipat and Faridabad. He launched the mission in all five districts of Rohtak range after he took charge as the Inspector General.

Jadhav was suspended in the wake of Jat violence in February, 2016, but his name was later cleared in a probe ordered by the government.