Rural Development and Animal Husbandry Minister Virender Kanwar presided over the 5th meeting of Gau Seva Aayog and reviewed various activities expenditure of the Aayog. During the meeting, discussion on budget approvals to various works was also held. Animal Husbandry Minister said the state government had taken several effective steps for protection of stray cattle through Gau Seva Aayog. Smart Cow Shelters were being setup in each District. An MoU has been signed to setup smart Cow Shelters in Solan and Kangra District. These cow shelters would have capacity to accommodate three thousand cows per cow shelter and 20 percent milching cows would be kept in these shelters.He said that efforts would be made to provide animal lifter to cow shelters in each district. Beside this, to make Gau Sadans self reliant, ten Gau Sadans would be converted into Gau Vigyan Kendras. In order to make these Kendras self reliant, efforts would be made to enhance productivity of milk and other cow products.
Minister said that the state government was providing financial assistance to Gau Sadans and cow shelters for better operations. For better monitoring of cows, the state government was considering to appoint supervisor in these cow shelters. Presently, there were 15 big cow shelters were being established in the state, out of which the work of eight has been completed, with an expenditure of Rs. 31 crore and shelter has been provide to 18 thousand cows in the state.The Minister also launched the website of Himachal Pradesh Gau Seva Aayog. This website would provide online monitoring of various activities of the Aayog and the contributors can also make donations through this website.Vice Chairman H.P. Gau Seva Aayog Ashok Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary LAC R.D. Dhiman, Secretary Finance Akshay Sood, Secretary Animal Husbandry Ajay Sharma, Director Animal Husbandry Dr. Pradeep Sharma, Joint Secretary Revenue Sunil Verma, Assistant Director Dr. Rajeev Walia, official and non official members of Aayog were also present in the meeting.