UP News: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who arrived in Gorakhpur on the auspicious occasion of Diwali, reached the cowshed located in the Gorakhnath temple complex on Monday morning and performed Govardhan Puja as per the rituals. Amidst the chanting of Vedic mantras, the Chief Minister worshiped the cow, applied tilak on her and garlanded her. After this he fed jaggery and banana to the cows with his own hands. During this, he was seen calling the cows by their names and caressing them affectionately. After the puja, he wished all the people of the state a happy Govardhan Puja and said that in Indian culture, cow is not just an animal but is the main basis of faith and rural economy.

Three big schemes going on for cow protection

While talking to the media, the Chief Minister said that schemes are being run at three different levels for the protection and promotion of cattle in Uttar Pradesh. Under the first scheme, the government itself establishes and operates destitute cow shelters. The second is a participatory scheme, which is proving to be very beneficial for farmers and livestock farmers. Under this scheme, any farmer can bring helpless cows from the cow shelter to his home and nurture them. The government gives financial assistance of Rs 1,500 per cow every month directly into the bank account of such farmers.

Help of up to Rs 6 thousand every month to farmers

The Chief Minister clarified that under the participation scheme, a farmer can rear a maximum of four cows. In this way, that farmer gets financial assistance of up to six thousand rupees every month from the government. Due to this, farmers do not have to bear the financial burden of cow rearing and at the same time they get fertilizer for their fields and milk for their homes. Similarly, under the third system, calved cows are given from cow shelters to ensure availability of milk to the malnourished families of the society. These families are also given Rs 1,500 every month for the care and fodder of the cow. A large number of needy families have taken advantage of this scheme to provide nutritional security to their children.

16 lakh cows are safe in the state's cowsheds.

The Chief Minister said that our tradition has been to respect and serve Mother Cow. To bring this to the ground level, the state government has so far established more than 7,700 cow shelters. At present, more than 16 lakh destitute cattle are kept in a safe and respectable environment in all these shelters. There, complete arrangements are being made for their fodder, water and regular health checkups. The government is continuously making efforts to improve the breed of destitute cattle, so that in future they can become a means of increasing the income of cattle herders.

Government's resolve to make both roads and fields safe

The Chief Minister stressed that the basic objective of the government is that no cow is forced to wander on the roads. When cattle roam on the roads, there is a risk of accidents and they also damage the crops of farmers. For a permanent solution to this problem, cow shelter sites are being created in rural areas through the Animal Husbandry Department and Kanha Upvans are being created in urban areas through the Urban Development Department. At all these centres, both crops and roads are being kept safe by providing shelter to the cattle.

Appeal to remove cow and dog's portion from every plate

CM Yogi reminded India's ancient agriculture and sage tradition and said that cow is the soul of our country. Attainment of religion, wealth, work and salvation is considered possible only through cow service. He appealed to the people of the state to revive their old traditions. In our traditions, there has been a rule of taking out the first morsel of food for the cow and the last morsel for the dog. Every family should follow this rule. He also said that people who do not have space to keep a cow at home can participate in this sacred work of cow service by providing financial or physical support to the cow shelters.