Keshubhai tells his ministers — go, get yourself a cow

GANDHINAGAR, JAN 24: From February 1, all ministers in Gujarat will welcome a cow or maybe even two in their official bungalows in Gandhinagar. This newfound cow love is ostensibly part of the Gujarat government’s cow protection campaign during the drought period.

All ministers nodded to the proposal in a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel said today. The State Government has drawn up a 151-day action plan for cattle protection till June 30, and Patel said he’d appealed to ministers to keep the animal even after the drought period is over. They may even rear more than one cow. Around one crore cattle-heads are estimated to be affected in the drought-hit areas, which cover 12,000 villages.

Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya, who also holds the charge of Cow Protection Department, explained that the action plan was part of a `concerted effort’ to save cattle in the drought-prone areas. The plan also provided for exemplary action against officials found responsible for any cattle deaths wherever such incidents are avoidable and could be controlled.

Between February 1 and July 1, no new slaughter-house would be given permission in Gujarat. The government machinery, with the help of non-government organisations, would ensure that shepherds took their animals to cattle ponds and not to abattoirs.