Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh’s Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister, Dharmapal Singh, has emphasized the need for continuous efforts in the protection and welfare of stray cattle. He urged that Gau shelters (cow shelters) should be regularly monitored by block development officers and veterinary officers to ensure 100% supervision. In light of rising accidents and complaints related to stray cattle, the Minister has directed authorities to address these issues swiftly and take immediate action.
Key Directives and Initiatives:
- Gau Shelter Operations:
- The Minister has instructed the authorities to ensure adequate facilities, such as tarpaulin covers, heating arrangements, sufficient fodder, water, and medicine, are available for cattle in shelters, especially during cold weather.
- Cattle shelters should have sufficient arrangements for fodder and bale hay to prevent livestock from suffering during the winter season.
- Protection and Conversion of Grazing Land:
- Singh has stressed the need to free grazing lands and common land from encroachments, and focus on green fodder production on these lands. The importance of a fodder development program was also emphasized.
- New Cattle Conservation Centers:
- The Minister highlighted the importance of completing the construction of 15 new large-scale cattle conservation centers in a timely manner. These centers will play a crucial role in the protection and care of stray cattle.
- Animal Husbandry Programs:
- Singh directed the department to increase the outreach and awareness of goat and poultry farming schemes, aiming to benefit eligible families in rural areas.
- The department was instructed to ensure that the construction of large cattle conservation centers is done on schedule, with a strong focus on maintaining quality standards.
- Artificial Insemination and Breed Improvement:
- The Minister emphasized that under the guidance of the Chief Minister, the breeding improvement and artificial insemination programs should be ramped up to increase cattle productivity and income for farmers.
- Better Facilities in Cow Shelters:
- The goal is to further enhance the nutritional and health management systems within cow shelters to improve the overall welfare of the cattle.
Review of Current Initiatives:
In today’s meeting, the progress of various cattle protection and welfare programs was reviewed. Notable updates include:
- 7695 go shelters currently house 1,231,198 stray cattle across the state.
- The Department is focused on increasing the cold weather protection for stray cattle and ensuring adequate supervision and monitoring of shelters.
Continued Commitment to Stray Cattle Welfare:
Singh reiterated that the Uttar Pradesh government is committed to the protection and promotion of stray cattle welfare, and the government is working tirelessly towards enhancing the livelihoods of farmers and animal husbandry workers. The objective is to improve income for livestock keepers, provide better health and nutrition for cattle, and ensure better living conditions for all animals in the state.
Official Updates:
- K. Ravindra Nayak, Principal Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development, briefed the Minister on the current progress of departmental schemes and initiatives.
- Devendra Pandey, Special Secretary of Animal Husbandry, emphasized the importance of inspections at the go shelters, advising that veterinary officers must ensure thorough checks and upload reports on the go shelter portal.
Further Action and Support:
The department has committed to addressing any challenges faced by the shelters and has assured that immediate support will be provided to rectify any issues. The implementation of these initiatives is expected to significantly improve the lives of stray cattle and the livelihood of animal husbandry workers across Uttar Pradesh.
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Dr. Jaikesh Pandey, Additional Director of the Directorate of Animal Husbandry, and Dr. P.N. Singh, Joint Director, among others.
