Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 30 Oct: A crucial executive meeting of the Uttarakhand Gau Seva Aayog was held at the Livestock Building Auditorium in Mothrowala under the chairmanship of Commission Chairman Dr Rajendra Anthwal here today. The meeting reviewed the construction and functioning of Gau Sadans (cow shelters) in all districts, as well as the implementation of cow welfare programmes across the state. Several significant resolutions were adopted in the meeting, including a proposal to accord the cow the status of Rashtra Mata.
During the meeting, Chairman Anthwal asserted that, as per scriptures, the cow is revered as a mother, and prosperity resides in homes and villages where cows are nurtured. He added that cow-based natural farming enhances soil fertility, while cattle rearing sustains livelihoods through small-scale industries. Serving the cows in Devbhoomi, he said, is a matter of great fortune. Expressing concern that about 60 per cent of cattle in the state are still roaming on the streets, he lamented the rise in cruelty towards animals and emphasised that strict measures must be introduced to prevent such crimes.
Dr Anthwal instructed the officials to make the provisions for cattle protection more stringent and to expedite the construction of new Gau Sadans under the Urban Development and Panchayati Raj Departments without further delay. He directed that pending payments to existing shelters be cleared promptly, the land selection and tender processes expedited, and adequate cattle pickup vans arranged for the treatment of injured or sick cattle. Expressing dissatisfaction over the slow pace of construction in Nagar and Zila Panchayats, he called for greater accountability at all administrative levels.
Anthwal further directed the police to take firm action against those involved in animal cruelty and cattle smuggling and recommended appointment of legal advisors to prosecute such offences. He also stated that adequate and nutritious feed must be ensured for cattle in shelters, and that the Cooperative department should provide ensilage to Gau Sadans at concessional rates. During the meeting, members of the Commission submitted suggestions related to the functioning, challenges, and solutions for Gau Sadans in their districts.
The Commission unanimously approved several key proposals, including forwarding a recommendation to the Government of India to grant the cow the status of Rashtra Mata and to implement a uniform national law to prevent cattle-related crimes. Other resolutions included introducing ten-year rigorous imprisonment and a Rs 5 lakhs fine for cow slaughter and meat smuggling, increasing the fine for abandoning cattle on roads from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000, and making cattle registration and photographic tagging mandatory in both rural and urban areas.
The Commission also proposed setting up of a dedicated Cattle Protection Squad at the police level, conducting vehicle checks at interstate borders, and enforcing birth and death registration for all cattle. Establishment of Nandishalas (bull shelters) under Zila Panchayats and Nagar Palikas, promotion of indigenous cow breeds through incentive schemes, and identification and freeing of encroached Gauchar (grazing) lands were also recommended. The meeting called for adequate financial allocation to the Cow Commission and simplification of registration procedures for cow shelters.
Among those present at the meeting included Deputy Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Mahavir Singh Panwar, Joint Secretary, Forest, Satya Prakash Singh, Joint Secretary, Finance, S Tripathi, DSP Navin Chandra Semwal, Director, UCB, Prof Sanjay Kumar, Director, Animal Husbandry, Uday Shankar and members Gauri Maulekhi, Kamini Kashyap, Kamlesh Bhatt, Shankar Dutt Pandey, Dharmveer Singh Gusai, Sheetal Prasad, Satish Upadhyay and Vijay Vajpayee.
