Yogi Govt to Levy ‘Cow Welfare Cess’ to Protect Stray Cattle in UP
A UP government official said the new ‘cess’ funds will be used to construct a cowshed in every district.
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The Uttar Pradesh cabinet on Tuesday, 1 January, cleared a proposal to levy a two percent 'cow welfare cess' on the excise department, an official said.
The official said temporary cow sheds (gaushalas) will be opened in all villages, panchayats, municipalities, nagar panchayats and municipal corporations. These cowsheds will be constructed through MNREGS funds, he added.
In every district, both urban and rural areas, a cowshed with capacity of minimum 1,000 animals will be built and for this a total of two percent "cow welfare cess" will be imposed on excise, mandi parishad, profitable corporations and others, he said.
He said the new policy will ensure these stray animals are taken care of and concerned departments work with the state government in coordination for better results.
Besides aiding the animal husbandry department, these 'ashray asthals' will be working on a self-sustaining model, the official said.
Last week, the chief minister had directed the officials to make immediate arrangements for proper care of stray cows.
In a meeting with senior officials, the chief minister asked them to set up a committee to consider measures for providing better shelter facilities to stray cows and directed Chief Secretary Anup Chandra Pandey to be present with recommendations in a week's time.
Adityanath said in case of encroachments immediate steps would be taken for their removal and strict action will be initiated against the accused.
In another important decision, the state cabinet gave its nod for providing compensation to officials and employees of the state police and fire services in case of disability suffered during the discharge of duties.
The cabinet also approved a plan to give police station status to ten units of UP Vigilance to expedite inquiry and prosecution in such cases, the spokesman added.
Why Burden the People, Asks Oppn
However, the Opposition in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, slammed the state government's decision to levy a cess to fund temporary shelters for cattle, saying this would burden people.
The Samajwadi Party, the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party have criticised the move.
"It is the responsibility of the government to protect cows, but I wonder why the people are being burdened," SP spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said.
BSP President Mayawati challenged the Centre to impose a similar cess at the national level, “if the protection of cows can be ensured through such thinking of the BJP and the RSS”.
UP Congress Spokesman Anshu Awasthi said, "The BJP is in power in UP for more than 20 months, but nothing concrete has been done for the cows. When the farmers and others are facing immense hardships due to stray cattle, they are now trying to somehow send a message that serious measures are being taken".
He said the Bharatiya Janata Party had sought votes in the name of cows and now its government is burdening common people by invoking cows.
(With inputs from PTI)
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