The govt needs Rs 100 cr to build 1,000 gaushalas

BHOPAL: The Congress government in Madhya Pradesh is mulling a cow cess on “expensive cars” to find money to build gaushalas. If it does, it would be the first Congress government to levy a cess for cow welfare.

The Kamal Nath government is studying the revenue model of BJP-ruled Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan (where cow cess was charged by the erstwhile BJP govt), say sources. The animal husbandry department needs Rs 150 crore to build 1,000 cowsheds, housing 100 cows each, but it has a budget of Rs 50 crore.

Aiming to get the 1,000 gaushala project rolling before the Lok Sabha polls, the government has constituted a high-level inter-departmental committee to find ways to bridge this revenue gap. The panel comprises heads of health, panchayat, forest, revenue and animal husbandry departments. They are studying the budgetary provisions for cow welfare in these states.

Among the options on the table are cess on purchase of “expensive cars, surcharge on stamp duty and a cess on toll plaza fees and excise items. Officials couldn’t define what they meant by ‘expensive cars’, saying the modalities are still being worked out. “The plan is in the initial stages. After we get the nod from CM, we will get into specifics like price of cars and percentage of tax,” said an official.

One of the options considered was using the excess land of temple trusts to build cow sheds, but it was discarded for fear of angering priests and sadhus. Sources say the government might route funds under MNREGA to develop infrastructure for cows. Each cow shed needs at least an acre of land, plus space for fodder production and storage. District collectors have sent proposals of 647 sites where cowsheds can be developed and have identified 86 self-help groups that can be roped in for maintenance.

Gaushalas to be self-sustaining

Developing cow sheds was in the Congress Vachan Patra. Funds will not be a hindrance and different models are also under consideration for the purpose,” said state animal husbandry minister Lakhan Singh Yadav.

The government has also come up with a “sustainability model” for cow sheds, where it aims to make over 100 products from cow produce to meet routine expenditure of gaushalas.

Most of the products would be from cow dung — hawan items, flower pots, manure, incense sticks and other items of daily use.

The proceeds will take care of the expenses of food, medication and maintenance, said an official. The Congress Vachan Patra had promised commercial production of cow urine.

The Kamal Nath government has already taken significant steps in cow welfare — it has already allotted 500 acres for setting up MP’s first Gokul Gram and increased the daily allowance to Rs 20 per cow (up from Rs 4 in the BJP era).

