Uttar Pradesh Government Boosts Cow Protection and Dairy Development

Uttar Pradesh's Strategic Initiatives for Cow Care

The government of Uttar Pradesh has devised an ambitious plan focused on bolstering cow protection and fostering dairy development across the state. Announced in a recent meeting headed by the state's animal husbandry and dairy development minister, Dharampal Singh, the plan aims to improve the commercial utilization of cow dung and urine as part of its sustainable development goals.

Innovative Measures and Training

Among the newly approved measures is the establishment of a vermicompost unit to be facilitated by the agriculture department. This measure is aimed at making cow shelters more self-sufficient, with the government providing the necessary infrastructure for earthworm supply, licensing, and manure marketing.

Further, the initiative includes comprehensive training programs for cattle rearers and cow shelter operators. There is also a proposal to integrate cow and cattle rearing into the educational curriculum of schools, ensuring the younger generation inherits these skills.

Cow Protection and Financial Support

The state currently supports over 12.43 lakh destitute cows across 7,713 centers, with plans to increase the maintenance allowance from ₹30 to ₹50 per day per cow. Under the Mukhyamantri Sahbhagita Yojana, 1.62 lakh cows have already been handed over to beneficiaries, each receiving a monthly financial aid of ₹1,500.

Advanced Facilities and Employment Opportunities

The establishment of radium belts for stray cattle along highways and CCTV installations in cow shelters highlights the state's commitment to cow safety. Additionally, substantial funding has been allocated for the establishment of large cow conservation centers, with 543 having already been approved.

To spur rural employment, the government is implementing schemes like Gocast, vermicompost, and biogas production in collaboration with self-help groups and NGOs. A significant development is the cow sanctuary and a compressed biogas (CBG) plant in Muzaffarnagar, facilitated by the National Dairy Development Board.

Enhanced Milk Production and Healthcare

In terms of milk production, the government has reduced the cost of sexed semen doses, imported high-yield Sahiwal embryos from Brazil, and is adapting advanced breeding techniques like IVF and Embryo Transfer Technology.

The health care aspect has not been overlooked; 520 mobile veterinary units have been deployed offering on-call services for livestock, significantly benefitting rural pastoralists.