Bhopal: Hours after chairing the first meeting of the newly-constituted cow cabinet in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan extolled on the virtues of cow urine at a public event Sunday.
“Many ailments are cured by gaumutra-based medicines (cow urine-based medicines). Allopathic medicines lead to more ailments but medicines made from gaumutra and plants become amrit (nectar). No one should consider the cow as useless,” he said at the country’s first cow sanctuary in the Agar Malwa district.
He also announced that his government was considering levying a “gauseva kar (cow cess)” to raise funds for the welfare and conservation of cows.
While the quantum of the cess was not specified, Chouhan said the sum will be nominal, adding that the government alone could not protect cows.
Chouhan flew to Agar Malwa after attending the cow cabinet meeting virtually. He and the five ministers who constitute the cabinet were expected to conduct the meeting at the cow sanctuary in the district but the programme was changed due to Covid-19.
The ‘gau’ cabinet was formed by the Madhya Pradesh government Wednesday and is aimed at protection and conservation of cows. The ministers of animal husbandry, forest, panchayat, revenue, home and farmers’ welfare comprise the mini-cabinet.
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‘Every cow product nectar, key to environmental protection’
Chouhan said cows hold the key to protecting the environment, adding that “not just milk, every cow product is nectar”. “Positive energy flows in every household that rears cows,” he added.
Addressing the criticism he has been receiving for the cow cabinet, Chouhan said he will focus on bijli-sadak-paani (electricity-roads-water), but will take up the cause of cows simultaneously.
He also announced that his government will open more gaushalas (cow shelters) and will direct district collectors to depute people to run them properly.
The Chief Minister added that the cow sanctuary in Agar Malwa will be converted into a tourist attraction that will allow meditation with cows.
Chouhan also reiterated his opposition to the inclusion of eggs in anganwadi meals.
“I have also decided eggs will not be served in anganwadis. We will give milk to severely malnourished children,’’ he said
Chouhan had shot down proposals to include eggs in anganwadi and mid-day meals in his previous terms as well.
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