Cow Protection Project: Karnataka Government To Start ‘Gaushalas’ In State-Controlled Temples

Twenty-five A-grade temples in Karnataka will soon have their own gaushalas (cow shelters) that will be managed by the Department of Muzrai, reports Vijayavani.

The district administrations of the 25 temples have been instructed to find and provide land measuring 10-15 acres for the gaushalas. Each gaushala will accommodate a minimum of 200 cows, said Minister for Muzarai Kota Srinivas Poojary, as quoted.

The gaushalas will be modelled on the ‘’Goswarga’ run by the Ramachandrapura Math headed by Raghaveshwara Swamiji in Hosanagara, and will take into consultation the views of seers and other individuals who have been working to safeguard cattle in the state.

The move also intends to provide for the care of animals rescued from cattle traffickers, or from drought-hit or flood-hit regions, as well as aged and ailing cows.

The Mandarthi temple in Udupi has been chosen for the implementation of the first project of this model.

While all large revenue churning temples will be included in the project, priority will be given to those in rural areas, said Poojary.

Either land belonging to the temples or that reserved for cattle grazing and pasture (gomala lands) will be utilised for the same.

In order to address issues of neglect and lack of facilities at a few goshalas run by the state, a blueprint for the ones that will be controlled by the Muzrai department is being prepared in consultation with experts, said Poojary.

The department is also looking to address the issue of mismanagement of funds and protection of temple property at the state-controlled temples, and senior IAS officer Rohini Sindhuri has been asked to submit a report regarding the same.

The report will also include details of total property held by the Muzrai-controlled temples.