(a) the details of the policy of the Government with respect to protection of cows;
(b) whether the Government is considering to open ‘gaushala(s)’ in every district;
(c) if so, the time by which these are likely to be set up; and
(d) the details thereof, State-wise including Uttar Pradesh?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (D) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 46 PROTECTION OF COWS TO BE ANSWERED ON 25TH JUNE 2019.
(a) As per Article 246(3) of the Constitution of India Animal Husbandry is a State subject. The relevant entry (Entry 15) of List II of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution reads as follows: “Preservation protection and improvement of stock and prevention of animal diseases; veterinary training and practice”. However, in order to complement and supplement the efforts of the States and Union Territories for protection of cows Government of India is implementing following schemes: (i) Rashtriya Gokul Mission; (ii) National Dairy Plan-I; (iii) Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme (iv) Livestock Health and Disease Control; (v) National Livestock Mission and (vi) Breed Improvement Institutes. Through Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) Government of India is implementing schemes namely (i) Provision of Shelter House for looking after animals in distress and (ii) Animal Welfare Board of India Plan Scheme for maintaining the stray animals in distress and their treatment, human education programmes for welfare of animals, etc. Details of these schemes is given at Annexure-I
(b) to (d) Government of India does not have any scheme for setting up New Gaushalas. However, scheme Provision of Shelter House for looking after animals in distress is being implemented through Animal Welfare Board of India. Under the scheme financial assistance is provided to NGOs/ Animal Welfare Organization (AWOs) for establishment and maintenance of shelter houses for the Shelter House project consisting of construction of Boundary Wall, In- house Dispensary, Shelters, Water tanks, Drains, Contingency expenses and cost of Medical Equipments.