Lok Sabha Question No. 1877 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-11
Subject: Cow Shelter
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Satpal Brahamchari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED DAIRY NO. 1985 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11th    MARCH, 2025

## COW SHELTER

1877. SHRI SATPAL BRAHAMCHARI:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the steps taken by the Government during the last five years to address the growing problems in respect of stray cattle in urban and rural areas of Haryana State during the last five years;
- (b) whether the adequate funds are being provided in this regard;
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the implementation of cow protection and welfare promotion schemes in this regard, district-wise;
- (d) whether the Government has evaluated the effectiveness of cow shelters and other cow protection initiatives in managing stray cattle; and
- (e) the reasons for failure in implementation of a comprehensive national policy for cow protection and stray cattle management along with the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

(PROF. S.P. SINGH BAGHEL)

- (a),(b),(c) & (e)  As per the Article 246(3) of Constitution of India, preservation, protection and improvement of stock and prevention of animal diseases; veterinary training and practice is a State subject.  As per Article 243(W) of Constitution of India, the local bodies are responsible for cattle pounds and pinjrapole. Therefore, the State may also endow panchayats to establish and run Cattle Pounds (Kanji Houses)/ Gaushala Shelters (community assets) to keep stray cattle. Many States have established Gaushalas and Shelter houses for stray cattle and provide for feeding of those animals to overcome the problems of stray bovines. The Government of Haryana has informed that the following steps have been taken by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying and the Haryana Gau Seva Aayog:-
- i) The Gaushalas in the State, which are primarily managed by NGOs, are providing food & shelter to stray cattle in the State. To strengthen these institutions, the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying is providing financial  assistance to the Gaushalas in the  form of Grant-in-Aid for purchase of fodder. The details of grant provided by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of Haryana during last 05 years is as follows : -

| Year    | Fodder grant amount (In Rs.)   |
|---------|--------------------------------|
| 2020-21 | ₹8,52,14,500                   |

| 2021-22             | ₹25,91,91,600    |
|---------------------|------------------|
| 2022-23             | ₹27,72,78,300    |
| 2023-24             | ₹69,07,23,425    |
| 2024-25 (Till date) | ₹152,63,38,605   |
| Total               | ₹ 2,83,87,46,430 |

As a result, the number of registered Gaushalas in the State has increased from 525 to 683, during the last five years.

- ii) The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying started a special campaign for Rehabilitation of Stray Cattle in January, 2024. Till date, 36,641 stray cattle have been shifted to 194 Gaushalas. To encourage the Gaushalas to rehabilitate the stray cattle, an enhanced amount of grant for the fodder has been provided to these Gaushalas.
- iii) To encourage the Gaushalas for rehabilitation of stray cattle, State Government constituted the Special Cow Protection Task Force (SCPTF ) for every districts and a state level Special Cow Protection Task  Force  committee vide  notification  no.  2062(CFMS)-AH-4-2021/4633  dated 20.07.2021.
- iv) The State Government established two Gau Abhayaran, each with a capacity to house 5000 cattle, in Village Nain (District Panipat) and Village Dhandoor (District Hisar) with an expenditure of Rs. 800.00 Lakh. Approximately, 5500 stray cattle have been rehabilitated in these Abhyaran so far.
- (d) The Central Government has not conducted an evaluation the effectiveness of the cow shelters. However,  the  Government  of  Haryana  has  reported  Various  measures  that  demonstrate  the effectiveness of cow shelters and other initiatives for managing stray cattle as following:-
- i. The  number  of  cows  housed  in  the  Gaushalas  has  increased  from  3,25,977  in December 2019 to 4,05,115 in December 2024.
- ii. The  number  of  Gaushalas  that  have  offered  shelter  and  protection  to  cows  has increased from 525 in December 2019 to 683 in December 2025.
- iii. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has opened 14 Govt. Veterinary Hospitals and 12 Govt. Veterinary Dispensaries in various Gaushalas of the state for preservation, treatment and protection of cattle.
- iv. As a protective initiative of stray cattle, Govt. has started vigorous  rehabilitation of stray cattle campaign in last year which is still going on. During this period 36,641 stray cattle has been rehabilitated in Gaushalas.
- v. There has been large decrease in number of stray cattle in the state.

The Govt. has provided financial assistance for cow shelters and made provisions for financial grants for feed and fodder to the needed Gaushalas.

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