JAIPUR/ INDIA: Even in a deeply devout India where the cow is revered, a government ministry dedicated to the protection of the animal is a first.
Otaram Devasi, 48, is the western Indian state of Rajasthan’s minister in charge of cow affairs. As for himself, India’s first-ever minister for the ‘divine’ bovine likes to address himself as “gaupalan mantri” cow welfare minister.
Rajasthans right-wing Hindu administration of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has established a government department for the preservation and protection of cows and to start research institutions, or cow science universities, focused on the rearing and health of the animal.
The government led by Vasundhara Raje promptly announced a ministry for the protection of cows, which was later transformed to a “department” after the move struck a constitutional hurdle since Indian states can’t set up new ministries.
Devasi, who himself owns “20-25 cows”, wants the canvas for cow protection to be bigger. “I believe if cows have to be saved then every state in India must have separate ministries for cows,” he says, insisting that he’s not being just rhetorical.
For his desert state, there are three things high on his agenda: clamping down on rampant cattle smuggling, introduction of a helpline number on the lines of 108 ambulance services to help cattle in distress besides starting a one-of-its-kind “sanctuary” for cows near Bikaner or Jaisalmer. ?
?India produced 3.643 million tons of beef, of which 1.963 million metric tons was consumed domestically and 1.680 million metric tons was exported. However, most of the exported beef is buffalo meat.
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