Cow-Sheds Essential for Disabled and Elderly Cows along with Promoting Animal Husbandry: CM Dr. Yadav

In the first phase, work will be done with the help of toll nakas and bodies of five districts to curb the movement of cows on highways

Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav emphasized the importance of encouraging farmers and cattle rearers to engage in animal husbandry alongside agriculture. He stressed the need for comprehensive measures to protect cows and highlighted the priority of promoting animal husbandry, particularly by operating gaushalas (cow shelters) for disabled and elderly cows. Dr. Yadav urged the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Department to collaborate with related departments to achieve better outcomes. During a meeting with senior officials at the Mantralaya on Friday, he discussed cow protection and the Milk Production Promotion Scheme, providing specific instructions to advance these initiatives.

Hydraulic vehicle arrangement for cows and other cattle sitting on highways

Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav stated that increasing milk production will boost the income of cattle rearers. He suggested that Madhya Pradesh should study and adopt systems from Gujarat and other states to enhance efforts. Dr. Yadav directed officials to address the issue of stray cattle during the rainy season and the road accidents caused by cattle left in the open by farmers, which also lead to traffic problems on highways. The Animal Husbandry and Dairy Department reported that in the first phase, districts such as Raisen, Vidisha, Sehore, Dewas, and Rajgarh have been selected to address this problem. Hydraulic cattle lifting vehicles, connected to the toll system, have been arranged to transport cattle to the nearest cow shelters with the help of toll booth operators and other organizations. This facility will soon be expanded to other districts. Additionally, the department operates a mobile veterinary unit with a toll-free number (1962) to provide first-aid to animals. Dr. Yadav emphasized the need to advise cattle rearers and farmers, through public announcements, not to leave their cattle on the roads.

Incentives to milk producers

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav apprised himself about the departmental efforts on important topics like ensuring milk procurement in the state, providing fair price of milk to farmers and cattle rearers, support to milk unions, setting up milk processing plants in districts, encouragement to cooperative milk societies, milk supply for better nutrition of children in the state and gave necessary instructions. In the meeting, information was also provided about the efforts related to increasing the income of various milk unions of the state and the success achieved.

In the meeting, there was also discussion regarding expansion of processing capacity of milk unions, role of cooperative societies and collection centers in gram panchayats and schemes of Gau-Samvardhan Board. Apart from this, instructions were given to reward the cow shelters operating in the state at the district level for best work, and to expand Acharya Shree Vidyasagar Jeev Daya Samman Yojana to the district level. Intensive Animal Development Project, grants to cow shelters, establishment of Gauvansh Van Vihar units in the form of large cow shelters in the state, expansion of schemes related to Gau-Abhyaran Research and Production Centre were also discussed.

State Minister of Animal Husbandry and Dairy (Independent Charge) Shri Lakhan Patel, Chief Secretary Smt. Veera Rana, Additional Chief Secretary Chief Minister’s Office Dr. Rajesh Rajoura, Additional Chief Secretary Shri Malay Kumar Srivastava, Principal Secretary Chief Minister’s Office Shri Sanjay Shukla, Principal Secretary Urban Development and Housing Shri Neeraj Mandloi, Principal Secretary Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Shri Gulshan Bamra and concerned officers were present in the meeting.