Govt mulls cow care therapy in jail

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, November 13

Under the ‘gaushala therapy’ of jail reforms, the Haryana Government is considering gifting a cow to each convict released from prison.

The state government has decided to open a ‘gaushala’ in Karnal, Ambala, Jind, Bhiwani, Jind, Sonepat and Rohtak jails.

Official sources said bovine care was proposed as a reformative measure to develop compassion. Released inmates would be given a cow after completion of sentence.

“It may help the individual set up a dairy and start a reformed life,” said an official. The initiative would help in curbing the stray cattle menace in cities.

Almost every town had a ‘gaushala’ with residents giving voluntary donations to meet expenses. ‘Gaushalas’ in jails would not lead to any additional financial burden, said the official.

Officials said Haryana jails had adequate human resources for the project. BJP-ruled states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh had been running ‘gaushalas’ in jails.

The prisons department had been running several vocational and skill development training programmes, but bovine care was being introduced for the first time.

Following the suggestion of spiritual leader Swami Gyananand for ‘gaushala therapy’ for jail inmates, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had agreed to open ‘gaushalas’ where land was available in jails.

“While the prisoner will be engaged in maintaining ‘gaushalas’, the facility will cater to the demand for milk by prisoners,” said an official.

“Cow dung can be used for a low-cost biogas plant to meet cooking gas and electricity requirements on the jail premises,” said the official.

Krishan Lal Panwar, who holds charge of the department, visited the Kurukshetra jail on Saturday. He agreed to a Bhagvad Gita recitation programme during the annual Gita Jayanti next month.

He said in view of golden jubilee of the state, 240 days would be reduced from the term of women aged above 65 and men aged above 75. Haryana has 19 jails with over 18,000 inmates, including 750 women.