After the proposal to run cow shelters at PAC compounds was turned down by DGP headquarters, Yogi Adityanath led UP government has reportedly come up with a compromise formula. As per media reports, the UP government has proposed that 12 prisons of the state can run the ‘gaushalas’ as there’s no dearth of manpower there. If the new proposal gets all the requisite nods, the prisoners will be entrusted to take care of the cattle- from feeding, cleaning to milking in addition to their assigned work in the premises. Interestingly, the fund allocation for the project, as per media speculation, is expected to come from the ongoing Budget session in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.
The proposal has been given to the government by the Gau Sewa Aayog, headed by former IAS officer Rajiv Gupta. Reportedly, chief minister Yogi Adityanath has shown a keen interest in implementing the cow welfare. Confirming the development, additional inspector general of prisons department, Sharad, told The Times of India: “In jails, we have ample space and enough people who can tend cows. We gave our nod to the proposal immediately.”
This comes after the Gau Sevak Commission’s demand to run cow shelters at PAC (Provincial Armed Constabulary) grounds but the proposal was rejected by the police and the home department. Setting up cow shelters on PAC battalion compounds were not found to be feasible.
UP CM Yogi Adityanath who is the head of the Gorakhpur Math is known for his love and affinity for the bovine animal. The state government, as per media reports, is also planning to free up its own land from illegal encroachment to set up these new cow- shelters in “safe locations” and with full facility for fodder and water.