Uttar Pradesh to set up cow sheds for stray cattle; state to impose 'gau kalyan' cess on profitable corporations

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh cabinet on Tuesday approved a plan to set up and run temporary gauvansh ashray asthals under the urban and rural civic bodies in order to take proper care of stray cattle. The state cabinet meeting, presided by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, okayed the plan and said a “cow welfare cess” will be imposed for the same, a government spokesman said. [caption id=“attachment_4401323” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. AP[/caption] The official said temporary cowsheds will be opened in all villages, panchayats, municipalities, nagar panchayats and municipal corporations. These cowsheds will be constructed through Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) funds, he added. In every district, both urban and rural areas, a cowshed with a minimum capacity of 1,000 animals will be built, and for this, a total of 2 percent “cow welfare cess” will be imposed on excise, mandi parishad, profitable corporations and others, he said. Stating farmers are fast taking the mechanised route, the officials said that more and more cattle owners are deserting their animals. He said the new policy will ensure these stray animals are taken care of and concerned departments work with the state government in coordination for better results. Besides aiding the animal husbandry department, these ashray asthals will be working on a self-sustaining model. Last week, the chief minister had directed the officials to make immediate arrangements for proper care of stray cows. He had ordered for the removal of illegal encroachments to pave the way for fresh grazing grounds in different parts of the state. In a meeting with senior officials, the chief minister asked them to set up a committee to consider measures for providing better shelter facilities to stray cows and directed Chief Secretary Anup Chandra Pandey to be present with recommendations in a week’s time. Adityanath said in case of encroachments, immediate steps would be taken for their removal and strict action will be initiated against the accused. In another important decision, the state cabinet gave its nod for providing compensation to officials and employees of the state police and fire services in case of disability suffered during the discharge of duties. Earlier, this compensation was extended only in case of death, the spokesman said. The cabinet also approved a plan to give police station status to ten units of UP Vigilance to expedite inquiry and prosecution in such cases, the spokesman added.