Big Push For Cow, Dairy Programs In UP Budget: Welfare Of Gaushalas, Destitute-Cattle Part Of Rs 650 Crore Allocation

Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh has allocated significant resources for cow welfare and dairy development in the 2019-20 state budget presented today (7 February), reports Indian Express.

The annual budget, presented by state Finance Minister Rajesh Agarwal, assigned a total of Rs 650 crore under various schemes to promote the well-being of cattle.

While Rs 247.60 crore has been provided for maintenance and construction of gaushalas in rural areas, Rs 200 crore has been sanctioned for Kanha gaushala and destitute cattle shelter scheme in urban areas.

The budget has also proposed to impose a special cess on liquor sales in the state, of which Rs 165 crore will go towards the maintenance of destitute cattle-heads in Uttar Pradesh.

A provision of Rs 64 crore has been made under the Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay Small Dairy Scheme to set up 10,000 dairy units.

While Rs 56 crore has been provided for the establishment of a new dairy in Mathura, another Rs 5 crore has been allocated for the current fiscal year for various programmes under the Uttar Pradesh Dairy Policy, 2018.

To strengthen, restructure and expand training, technical inputs, cattle breeding and health schemes along with promoting the development of milk unions and societies, the finance minister announced a further grant of Rs 93 crore.