Lucknow – In a major move to protect cows from road accidents, the Uttar Pradesh government has directed the use of funds under the Uttar Pradesh Gau Sanrakshan and Samvardhan Kosh Niyamawali, 2019, to equip cows with radium strips around their necks. This initiative, aimed at safeguarding cattle from accidents on highways and main roads, will use over Rs 50 lakh from the reserved fund established for cow protection.
Principal Secretary of Dairy Development and Animal Husbandry, K. Ravindra Nayak, issued a circular to all District Magistrates, outlining the use of the fund for this protective measure. The fund, originally set up for the welfare of cows, will be utilized for essential expenses, including the application of radium strips to cows in villages situated near highways and district roads. The strips will make the animals more visible to vehicles, thereby reducing the risk of road accidents.
The initiative responds to numerous reports from public representatives, media outlets, and concerned citizens highlighting the dangers cows face while crossing busy roads to graze. By making them visible from a distance, the radium strips will help both prevent accidents and raise awareness among drivers.
Nayak reiterated the government’s commitment to cow protection, noting that the reserve fund at the district level can be used for various cow-related activities, including in times of natural disasters. This particular project aims to prevent the frequent injuries and fatalities reported due to cows being hit by vehicles.
The Uttar Pradesh government has issued several policies to safeguard cattle, but this latest directive is a direct response to the increasing number of accidents involving cows on roads. With the radium strips in place, both the cattle and motorists will benefit from heightened safety.
This move is expected to significantly reduce the risk of road accidents involving cows, especially in rural areas where farmers and cattle rearers regularly graze their animals near busy roads.
