Will give funds for cow shelters: Assam government

GUWAHATI: The BJP-led Assam government will from now on provide financial assistance to the state’s numerous gaushalas (cow shelters) to feed cows. The decision was taken by the state cabinet on Thursday.
The cabinet note said, “The council of ministers decided to provide funding to gaushalas to fill up gaps in fund required to feed the cows.”
Cabinet minister and government spokesman Chandramohan Patowary said, “All gaushalas are run by charitable trusts with funds from donations and maintenance is very expensive, that is why the government has decided to step in and provide the assistance.”
There are at least 20 gaushalas in the state that are run by charitable trusts that together provide shelter to about a couple of lakh cows which have been abandoned by their owners.
The trustee and vice-president of the century-old Shree Guwahati Gaushala, Jaiprakash Goenka, said, “We have heard about the cabinet decision and are extremely happy that for the first time the state government has taken such an initiative.”
Goenka said that gaushalas had earlier approached the Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog seeking relief for gaushalas reeling from financial crisis to feed the cows.
Goenka said, “We worship the cow as our mother and if we cannot feed it, it is very unfortunate.”
He said the Shree Guwahati Gaushala needs Rs 80,000 to Rs 90,000 daily just to feed the 1,500 cows with it.
“Fodder such as what barn is available in the black market only and a quintal of barn costs about Rs 800. Similarly a quintal of hay also costs about Rs 700. Under-fed cows become ill and produce less milk. The high cost of milk is triggered by high cost of fodder,” Goenka said.
He said states such as Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan provide funds to gaushalas in their states on a daily basis for each cow.