Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has reaffirmed that clearing the state’s roads of stray cattle remains a top priority for his administration. Speaking on Tuesday at a grant distribution ceremony held at the Shri Krishna Gaushala Society in Ladwa, Kurukshetra, the Chief Minister emphasized that the government is taking comprehensive steps to ensure the dignity and safety of cows. To facilitate this, two major cow sanctuaries have been established—one in village Nain in Panipat district and another in village Dhandhur in Hisar district. Saini revealed that ₹8 crore has already been released to provide essential infrastructure, including sheds, water, and fodder, at these facilities.
During the event, Chief Minister Saini distributed cheques totalling ₹70.24 lakh as fodder grants to 11 registered Gaushalas (cow shelters) from the Ladwa and Thanesar areas. This latest disbursement brings the total fodder grant for the 2025-26 fiscal year to ₹228.58 crore across 619 registered shelters statewide. The Chief Minister noted a significant expansion in the state’s support network over the last decade; while there were only 215 registered shelters housing 1.75 lakh cattle in 2014, Haryana now boasts 697 registered Gaushalas caring for more than 4 lakh stray animals. To further support these institutions, the government has waived stamp duty on land registration for new shelters and provides electricity at a highly subsidized rate of ₹2 per unit.
The government is also investing heavily in the health and sustainability of the bovine population. Saini announced the opening of seven new government veterinary dispensaries and four new government veterinary hospitals in locations such as Kari Adu, Dhundhwa, and Mohammadpur Ahir. To modernize these facilities, 330 shelters have already been equipped with solar energy plants, with a target to convert all registered Gaushalas to solar power by the 2026-27 fiscal year. Furthermore, to ensure medical care, veterinarians are assigned to visit shelters with over 3,000 cattle once a week, while smaller shelters receive weekly visits from Veterinary Livestock Development Assistants (VLDAs).
To promote self-reliance, the administration is encouraging Gaushalas to manufacture Panchgavya-based products, such as organic fertilizers, natural paints, soaps, and incense. Grants have been provided to 101 shelters for the purchase of machinery to create these value-added goods from cow dung and urine. Additionally, the “National Gokul Mission” is being leveraged to protect native breeds like the Sahiwal and Haryana cows, with owners receiving incentives ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹20,000 based on milk production. The Chief Minister also highlighted the strict legal framework provided by the Haryana Gau-Vansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act of 2015, which carries a prison sentence of up to ten years for cow slaughter and seven years for illegal smuggling.
Saini concluded by urging village panchayats, non-governmental organizations, and the youth to take an active role in making local cow shelters self-sustaining. He reminded the audience of the spiritual and cultural significance of the cow in Indian tradition, referencing ancient texts that describe the cow as a source of prosperity and divinity. By combining cultural reverence with modern infrastructure and strict law enforcement, the Chief Minister believes Haryana is well on its way to becoming a model state for bovine welfare and stray-cattle management.
