Lucknow, Apr 3 (Representative) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said that the state government is making continuous efforts for animal welfare and protection and many schemes are being run by the government to encourage the cattle rearers therefore it should be ensured that the eligible people get the benefits.While reviewing the management of stray or destitute cattle shelters and the current status of milk production and collection in the state in a high-level meeting, Yogi said, “Respecting public sentiments, necessary arrangements have been made by the state government for the protection of the destitute or stray cattle and for their fodder straw.”He said, “At present, more than 11.33 lakh cattle are protected in 6,719 destitute cattle protection sites. Under the special campaign conducted from January 20 to March 31.23 lakh cattle were protected. It should be ensured that stray cattle are taken care of in all the rural and urban areas of the state.”The CM said that most of the cattle have been protected in Sambhal, Mathura, Mirzapur, Shahjahanpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Amroha, Gautam Budhha Nagar, Ghaziabad and Farrukhabad districts. “Ongoing planned efforts for cow protection are yielding good results. Similarly, better management of destitute cattle should be done in all the districts in a phased manner,” he said.He said that the funds made available to all destitute cattle sites for fodder-husk and other necessary works should be made available directly to the cow-shelter sites.
“DBT must be utilised. While verifying the cattle in the last quarter of every month the report will be sent to the district administration by the Animal Husbandry Officer and ADO Panchayat and BDO at the development block level,” he said.Yogi said that after this the report will be sent to the government by the Chief Animal Husbandry Officer and Chief Development Officer by the 5th of the next month. “It should be ensured that the amount which is meant for the cattle is put to good use. Not only dry straw, green fodder should also be given to the cattle. Take the cooperation of the local people. The purchase of bran or husk should be paid as soon as the money is received,” he said.He said that large conservation centers are being set up in the state for the protection of cattle. “So far, 274 large cow protection centers have become functional. In the next six months, the remaining 75 large cattle breeding sites should be prepared. This will provide great convenience to the common man,” he said. The CM directed that caretakers should be posted at the cow protection sites. “Cows should also be taken for a walk from time to time. In case of illness/death of cattle, the caretaker will ensure all necessary arrangements,” he said.He said that the Mukhyamantri Sahabhagita Yojana run to protect cows has yielded promising results. “So far, more than 1.77 lakh cattle have been handed over to the common people under this scheme. For the availability of milk to families with malnourished children 3,598 cows have been given under the Nutrition Mission. An amount of Rs 900 per month should be made available every month to all the families serving the cattle. There should be no delay in this. Funds should be sent directly to the family through DBT.
Sub-Divisional Officers should be nominated at the local level for cattle verification,” he said.The CM said that out of the 50 per cent of the total wood used at the funeral site and cremation ground, cow dung cakes should also be utilised. “The cow dung cakes will be made available from the destitute cow shelters and the income generated will be used in the management of that cow shelter,” he said. He directed that availability of cattle catching vehicles should be ensured at all the 17 Municipal Corporations and district headquarters having Municipalities. “The state government is determined to provide quality milk and milk products to the general public at a reasonable price while ensuring remunerative prices for the milk producers associated with the state’s cooperative milk societies,” he said.Yogi said that due to continuous coordinated efforts, milk committees in the state have done unprecedented work in milk production, collection and sale. “This has increased the income of our livestock farmers. Organisations like Balinee Milk Producers have done exemplary work. Further expansion should be given to the formation of milk committees in all the districts. The role of women can be important in this,” he said.He said that UP is the leading state in milk production. “The Nand Baba Milk Mission scheme has been implemented to provide milk producers the facility of selling their milk at a reasonable price in the villages by forming milk co-operative societies in the villages. It has got good results. More and more milk producers should be given its benefits,” he said.The CM said that issues related to animal husbandry, milk production, sale and breed improvement should be reviewed weekly by the departmental minister concerned. “Set goals and work towards achieving them,” he directed.