Haryana Government committed to cow welfare, says Saini

Calling cow service or ‘gau seva’ an integeral part of Indian tradition, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini said the state government had been making significant efforts for the same in the past 10 years.

Saini was in Palwal on Wednesday to chair the annual function organised on Akshaya Tritiya by Gau Seva Dham Hospital in Hodal.

“We have been committed to the cause since day 1. In 2015, the government implemented the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act — a strict law to protect cows. In the current financial year’s Budget, Rs 595 crore has been allocated for the gaushalas. In 2014, there were only 215 registered gaushalas in Haryana, housing 1.74 lakh cattle. Today, there are 683 registered gaushalas for 4 lakh stray cattle. Over the last 10 years, the government has provided Rs 270 crore as fodder grants to registered gaushalas. In the last financial year, Rs 166 crore was given to 608 gaushalas for fodder,” said CM Saini.

The CM said to ensure no cow remains destitute, the government had established three Gau Abhyarans (cow sanctuaries) in Nain village (Panipat), Dhandhoor village (Hisar) and in Panchkula. Arrangements were made for sheds, water and fodder, and currently housed nearly 6,500 stray cattle. He said Rs 35 crore was granted for building around 400 sheds and fodder warehouses, and ‘gau charan’ land from panchayats was also being allocated to gaushalas.