Mumbai: The Maharashtra government that has approved a scheme to set up cow shelters in every district to encourage products made from cow urine and dung. Taking a cue from Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, whose Deolapar gau shala is said to be self-sustaining, the state government is going to try make cow shelters financially self-sustainable. As per the scheme, the government will be giving Rs 1 crore to one cow shelter in every district once — a total of Rs 34 crore to 34 districts. This will be an annual exercise.
“We have various options to make the cow shelters self-sustaining. One of them could be making use of cow urine and dung to make various products,” animal husbandry minister Mahadev Jankar said.
Products from cow urine and dung include phenyl, floor cleaner, soap, incense sticks, etc. There is no research if these products have any market in India.
“We will be giving guidelines to the owners of the cow shelters to make the products from the cow waste and sell it to run the gau shala. Mohanji Bhagwat has done it already. Also, we are planning to sell milk of cows to the education department and women and child welfare department. The departments will provide the milk to the schools and children that come under their purview,” Mr Jankar said.
Cow dung can also be used for organic farming and the state will encourage its distribution to farmers, the minister added. “I have increased the budget of the scheme so that one cow shelter in every district will get Rs 1 crore one time. Later, we want the cow shelters to become self-sustaining and take care of old cows and their progeny,” he said.
Asked about the parameters to give Rs 1 crore to cow shelters, the minister said that the criteria have been decided. “Anyone will not get the funds under the scheme. The person should have some experience in running the gau shala. One has to show the work, only then will the organisation or individual be selected to get funds,” Mr Jankar said.
A cow shelter manager from Vidarbha said it is only the community that pays the expenditure of the cow shelters. It is difficult to the run the facility otherwise, he said.
