Cow Protection Policy In The Works For Telangana; CM Reddy Forms Three-Member High-Level Committee

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has announced that the state government will soon implement a cow protection policy, emphasising the animal's cultural significance and devotees' sentiments.

On Tuesday (18 June), during a meeting with animal husbandry officials, Reddy instructed them to formulate a comprehensive policy and appointed a three-member committee for an in-depth study on establishing cow shelters, or 'goshalas,' reported The Indian Express.

Reddy stated, “The new policy should focus mainly on cow protection in view of the importance of cows in our culture and the sentiments of devotees.”

He also stressed, “The state government is ready to spend liberally for cow protection.”

The appointed committee includes Sabyasachi Ghosh, Special Chief Secretary to the Animal Husbandry Department; Shailaja Ramaiyar, Principal Secretary to the Endowments Department; and Raghunandan Rao, Secretary to the Agriculture Department.

This committee will visit other states with existing cow protection policies.

The Chief Minister also directed officials to construct four state-of-the-art cow protection centers across Telangana.

In the initial phase, these shelters will be set up in areas such as Vemulawada Temple, where devotees donate calves as part of the 'Kode Mokku' ritual.

“Special attention should be paid to the protection of calves donated with utmost devotion by the devotees,” Reddy said, and directed officials to establish a centre on 100 acres at Vemulawada.

Other planned locations for these shelters include Yadagirigutta, Yenkepally near Hyderabad, and the Animal Husbandry University.

Animal husbandry officials also presented an approach paper on cow shelter management to Reddy during the meeting.