Yogi Government Now Allows CSR Funds to Run Temporary Cow Shelters

The Yogi Adityanath government has allowed corporate houses to use CSR funds to run temporary cow shelters.

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The Yogi Adityanath government has allowed corporate houses to use corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds to run temporary cow shelters on the land reserved for grazing grounds.

Earlier this month, the state government had asked all district magistrates in the state to explore the option of getting companies to run these shelters as a part of their CSR obligations.

According to a report in the Hindustan Times, “Provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code 2006 do not allow transfer of grazing ground to any NGO for management” – which is why, a government order was issued by the Yogi government, “specifying how the ‘gram sabhas’ could get cooperation from corporate houses and the NGOs to provide facilities for abandoned cows on land reserved for grazing ground in villages.”

The HT report quoted principal secretary Suresh Chandra as saying (in the report sent out to all district magistrates):

Any construction of boundary wall on the grazing ground land cannot be permitted as per rules. Yet, there will be no objection to installation of tube well and construction of ‘<i>charhi’</i> (feeding point) and plantation of saplings of species of trees used for fodder by the ‘gram sabha’ on such land. There will also be no objection to getting cooperation from the corporate houses through CSR and the NGOs through a contract on proposal from the ‘gram sabha’.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Suresh Chandra, as quoted by<a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/yogi-government-now-allows-use-of-csr-funds-to-provide-facilities-for-abandoned-cows-in-up/story-v1BmNbaYet4rbtKEDP1AZO.html"> <i>Hindustan Times</i></a>