-First State-Level Gau Raksha Conference
Jaipur. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has said that for protection and conservation of cows the State Government established Go Seva Directorate during his previous tenure. This was a decision with our sacred intention of protecting the bovines. “Even today, the state government provides subsidy to cow shelters for their protection and fodder, which is not enough. We wish to increase this amount and a decision will be taken very soon,” he said.
Shri Gehlot was addressing the managers of cow shelters, their representatives and cow lover saints from the across the state who were participating in the inaugural event of the first ever State-level Gau Raksha Convention at Jaipur Exhibition And Convention Centre on Saturday. He said that the subsidy amount for the first trimester of this year would be released soon. Directions had been issued to the Finance Department. Also, fodder depots would be opened soon in the drought-affected districts.
The Chief Minister said that the cattle have the first right over the gauchar lands. The state government will make efforts to conserve and protect gauchar and pasture lands to ensure that the situation of fodder scarcity could be averted. He said that earlier we established the Go Seva Directorate and provided a budget of Rs. 125 crore per annum for cow shelters. Also, Rs. 25 crore were provided additionally for the weak and disabled bovines.
Shri Gehlot urged for making the cow shelter homes self-sustaining. He said that culturally we treated the cow as mother and all 33 crore deities take shelter into its body. He called upon the social workers and donors to help the state government in conserving this sacred animal and make the cow shelters self-sustaining.
During the event, the CM awarded a letter of appreciation with Rs. 25,000 in cash to Shri Laxmikant Sharma of Adarsh Gopalan evum Samrakshan Kendra, Rawacha (Nathdwara) as the first prize for the best cow shelter. Shri Nemichand Singhvi of Shri Marudhar Kesari Jain Gaushala Trust, Kushalapura (Pali) was awarded Rs. 15,000 cash as second prize and Swami Premdas Acharya of Shri Ram Kabir Peeth Bhagwat Gauseva, Mandawar (Dausa) was awarded Rs. 11,000 as the third prize.
Rajasthan Veterinary Health Association gave a cheque worth Rs. 21 lakh to the Chief Minister for the martyrs’ families.
CM Awarads Allotment Letters for Saras Dairy Booths
Chief Minister Shri Gehlot also awarded letters of allotment to 11 applicants for opening new Saras Dairy booths under the self-employment scheme.
Prior to this, Gaupalan Minister Shri Pramod Jain Bhaya said that the state government was preparing to implement a policy for protection and conservation of bovine animals. Agriculture Minister Shri Lalchand Kataria said that it was a priority of the state government to extend support to the farmers and cattle-breeders. He said that lakhs of farmers were benefited with the recent decision to give Rs. 2 per litre bonus to the milk-producers.
Forest and Environment Minister Shri Sukhram Vishnoi said that organizing a convention on Gau Raksha was the first ever initiative taken by any state government. In this, the cow lovers were awarded for their good services and the issues pointed-out by them were deliberated upon, he added.
During the event, the Members of Legislative Assembly Smt. Ganga Devi, Shri Vedprakash Solanki, Shri Amit Chachan, Nirmala Sahariya and Shri Panachand Meghwal, Additional Chief Secretary Animal Husbandry Shri PK Goyal and Managing Director RCDF Dr. Veena Pradhan were present among others.
