Each van with a veterinarian will take the animal to a gau shala or hospital

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Monday flagged off an ambulance service that would cater to cows.

Under the ‘Gauvansh Chikitsa Mobile Vans’ service, the ambulance would rescue ill or injured cows and transport them to ‘gau shalas’ or take them for treatment to the veterinary doctor. A “gau seva toll-free number” was also released so that common people can come to the help of such cows. A veterinarian will be present in the ambulance along with an assistant.

Mr. Maurya, who posted pictures of the event on his Facebook page, flagged off five such ambulances from his official residence in Lucknow.

In its initial phase, the service will be first available in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Mathura and Allahabad. The ambulance service is being run in collaboration with the MNREGA Mazdoor Kalyan Sanghathan, an organisation that says it works for labourers and others employed in the informal sector. Its president Sanjay Rai said the organisation has a presence in five states.

According to the brochure released by Mr. Rai, his organisation plans to take action against those people who abandon their cows once they stop giving milk, and also against municipality officials if cows are forced to eat polythene or plastic items dumped on the streets.

A similar project was a few days ago reported in Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh, which is also ruled by the BJP. In 2015, 10 such cow ambulances were also deployed for service by an industrialist-cum-social worker.