Chandigarh, May 8 – Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal has said that with the objective to provide shelter to destitute animals, especially cows and nandis in Gaushalas, 225 “Pashudhan Sarvekshan Samitis” will be constituted in all blocks of the state soon.

The Chief Minister said this during a video conferencing with the Deputy Commissioners, Deputy Directors of Animal Husbandry Department, representatives of Gaurakshak Committees and Gausevaks today. The Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Mr. J.P. Dalal and Swami Gyananand Maharaj were also present in the meeting.

The Chief Minister said that it is often observed that all the Gaushalas are ready to provide shelter to the cows but no one provides shelter to the nandis. He requested the gaushala representatives to build separate nandishalas for them.

The Chief Minister said that these Block Level Committees comprising of five members will be headed by Veterinary Surgeons besides including members of Gauseva Commission, the head of prominent Gaushala in the area and two social workers to be nominated by the Deputy Commissioner. He said that at the district level, these committees will be supervised by Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry Department. He added that they will also have the right to increase the number of members from five to six.

The Chief Minister also sought information about the number of stray cows and nandis during his interaction with the Deputy Commissioners, Deputy Directors of Animal Husbandry Department, representatives of Gaurakshak Committees and Gausevaks present during the videoconferencing. The Chief Minister said that in rural and urban areas there are a large number of stray animals, especially cows and nandis, that are on the roads and fall sick after consuming polythene and other waste material due to lack of fodder. In rural areas, they cause damage to crops by roaming in the fields and are often the reason for several road accidents.

He told the representatives of Gaurakshak Committees and Gausevaks that there are about 600 gaushalas in the state which give shelter to destitute animals especially cows and nandis. The Chief Minister said that the government will not run the Gaushalas but will provide grants to those who run them and will ensure all possible assistance for which Pashudhan Sarvekshan Samiti are being constituted.

Mr. Manohar Lal said that the government will provide grant to all the Gaushalas and this amount will be provided according to the proportion of productive and non-productive cattle. He said that according to the resolution passed in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, the Gaushala with less than 33 percent non-productive cattle will not be provided any grant, Gaushala with 33 % – 50 % non-productive cattle will receive a grant of Rs 100 per year per livestock, Gaushala with 51 % – 75 % non-productive cattle will receive a grant of Rs 200 per year per livestock, Gaushala with 76 % – 99 % of non-productive cattle will receive a grant of Rs 300 per year per livestock, Gaushala with 100 % non-productive cattle will receive a grant of Rs 400 per year per livestock. The Chief Minister said that Rs. 500 per livestock per year for Gaushalas or Nandishalas housing only nandis (male) will be given. He said that Rs. 400 per year per livestock will be given to the Gaushalas keeping Nandis and non productive cattle.

The Chief Minister said that the first task of these Pashudhan Sarvekshan Samitis is to count the number of animals, especially cows and nandis, both in Gaushalas as well as kept privately at homes in their respective areas, to fix the parameters of productive and non-productive cattle and will have to explore the land requirement for Gaushalas. He said that for fodder the Gaushalas can use the land of the gram panchayats on lease, if the gaushala belongs to the same gram panchayat, then an amount of Rs 5,000 per acre per year will be charged and if it belongs to another Gram Panchayat then Rs 7000 per acre per year will be charged. The Chief Minister said that if required, the Urban Local Bodies Department will also provide land on the outskirts of the city for Gaushalas and Panchayat Department will provide the land in rural areas.

Mr. Manohar Lal said that productive and non-productive cattle will be tagged with different colours. He said that this category can be changed with time as per the productivity of the cattle. He said that all the Veterinary Surgeons will collect the data of the cow and update it online through the common service centres. He said that whether a Gaushala receives government grant or not, it will be mandatory for everyone to register through the Animal Husbandry Department.

The meeting was attended by Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Mr. V. Umashankar, Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department, Mr. Raja Shekhar Vundru, Principal Secretary, Panchayat and Development Department, Mr. Sudhir Rajpal, Director General of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Department Dr. O.P. Chhikara were present.