Uttarakhand to Lead in the Animal Care

Pashu Sandesh, 22^nd March 2018

A comprehensive all-inclusive policy of animal care will soon be showcased in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand to ensure rehabilitation of stray cattle, ensuring grazing lands for cattle and financial support to various animal welfare schemes.

The State Chief Minister, Trivendra Singh Rawat, has not only endorsed the modified schemes of the recently re-constituted Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) under its new Chairman, S.P. Gupta but assured cooperation in implementing its schemes even at the village level. During this visit to Uttarakhand, he also met Baba Ramdev, the Yoga Guru, the pioneer of the Yoga movement and Ayurveda, which includes medicines from cow products, promised to support and assist such programs in the state as well as across the country.

Shri Gupta briefed the chief minister about the modified ongoing schemes and programs for effective care and management of stray and homeless animals across the country, particularly bovines (cows) and canines mostly abandoned by their owners.  In his bid to reinvigorate the AWBI, the chairman has introduced innovative approach improving the grazing lands or gochars, financial assistance for the welfare of the rescued cattle, maintenance of stray animals and extension of their health care facilities, including the availability of ambulances connecting them through 24-hour helpline facilities.

The AWBI with Gupta as its chairman has initiated a countrywide awareness of the adverse impact on the agriculture and environment caused by the massive decline of cows. Apart from the various awareness programs through volunteers and their organizations, he is meeting the chief ministers of states to bring the state administrations on a pro-active platform in implementing these schemes of the animal welfare.  These comprehensive schemes are expected to prevent rampant cruelty faced by the prevention of bovine animals or cows with the setting up of the cow sheds or goshalas. These centers will not only provide safe all-caring animal care, they will be economically viable by producing various cow-based medicines and other products popularly known as the panchgvaya medicines.

The state governments have been requested to set up the State Animal Welfare Board (SAWB) with its district units for reaching the abandoned animals. It will also ensure hassle-free funding or easy way of financial assistance to them.