In a first, Haryana to open hostels for cows, buffaloes and other animals

It seems the Bharatiya Janata Party ruled states are going all out to woo cattle rearers. The Haryana government perhaps has gone a few steps ahead and planned PG hostels for cows, buffaloes and other animals.

As a part of the project, 50-100 acres of land would be earmarked in major towns for the hostels so that those who live in urban areas and want to rear cattle to produce milk will have a central place for milch cattle, Haryana’s Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Om Prakash Dhankar said.

However, this is not all. The government is also organising a three-day fair to boost the cattle population in the state. The Haryana Swarna Jayanti Cattle Fair will be organised at Jhajjar from October 27 to October 29, The Indian Express reported. 

Here are the highlights of the cattle fair:

1. Around 2,500 cattle will participate in the event.

2. A walk of indigenous cattle will be organised in the fair.

3. Nearly 15,000 farmers would be invited to the fair every day.
 

4. Prizes worth Rs 9 crore would be given to the owners of best cattle, including best performer buffaloes in the filed of milk.

5. People will be able to sell and purchase cattle in this event.

6. Latest technology of milking would also be displayed. One such machine would be given as a prize on all the three days.

 

What are other states doing for cows?

1. The Uttarakhand government has formed a police squad called "cow family protection squad" to crack down on illegal cow and buffalo slaughterhouses and stop cattle smuggling. The squad has two headquarters in the state -- one at the northern Garhwal division headquartered in Haridwar and the other one at the southern Kumaon division in Udham Singh Nagar, The Telegraph reported. 

2. The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh launched a drive against illegal slaughterhouses in March. However, the move was criticised. The UP Police were accused of forcefully shutting many legal slaughterhouses, even those for goats, as well.

3. In April, the Gujarat Assembly passed the Gujarat Preservation (Amendment) Bill that seeks to award life imprisonment to anyone found guilty of cow slaughter in the state. Gujarat became the first state in the country to make cow slaughter punishable with a life term.