State Prison Minister Jai Kumar Singh said the initiative will give prisoners access to fresh milk and vegetables. (Photo: Reuters)

In a major push towards the protection of cows, the Yogi Adityanath government has allocated Rs 20 million for setting up cow shelters in 12 district jails across the state. In addition to this, gaushalas will be opened in 68 out of 75 districts in the state on an expenditure of Rs 81.6 crore.

According to information given by State Prison Minister Jai Kumar Singh, district jails of Meerut, Gorakhpur, Sultanpur, Kanpur Dehat, Balrampur, Noida, Firozabad, Kannauj, Agra, Barabanki, Sitapur and Raebareli have been chosen to open shelters that will house abandoned and old cows.

"People will not only get milk but with cow dung, organic vegetables can also be produced. Our prisoners will get fresh milk and vegetables. It will also create a good environment," added the minister.

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Additional Director General of Prisons Chandraprakash also said that cow shelters in the jail will provide fresh milk which is a welcoming step.

"We have identified the prisons and work will be started soon. Rs 2 crore has been sanctioned for making cow shelters in jails," added Chandraprakash.

Interestingly, the UP government has allocated Rs 1.2 crore each for 68 districts in UP to construct cow shelters.

"All the 7 districts in Bundelkhand region were given Rs 10 crore for cow protection. Rs 1.2 crore will be given to 68 districts of the state under this scheme. The first instalment of Rs 50 lakh has been released," said SC Gupta, secretary in Gau Seva Aayog.

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Gupta said prisoners will get work and fresh milk to drink. He said the construction of cow shelters was going to start soon in various districts.

UP BJP spokesperson Dr Chandramohan also welcomed the decision of the state government.

"It is Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's resolution to protect cows and that's why shelters are being made everywhere. A new cow shelter was recently inaugurated in Mirzapur. There is a lot of free space in jails which are being utilised for this purpose," said Chandramohan.

The Samajwadi Party has however opposed the decision of setting up cow shelters in prison.

"Jails are already overpopulated and conditions of prisoners are extremely bad. This government has failed to focus on the issues that concern people," Sunil Sajan told India Today.

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