The chailaha goshala in Motihari. Picture by Ajit Kumar Verma

Motihari, Nov. 7: The BJP’s national cow clan development cell has come up with a plan to give rural economy a boost by promoting milk production through cow farming.

The development cell would also make use of other related byproducts that are capable of serving the requirement of organic fertilisers and medicinal purposes.

To fight against the constantly growing inflation in the country, the BJP has evolved this novel technique and has entrusted the responsibility over the party’s national cow clan development cell to visit villages and aware them of the measures, which aim to improve the rural economy in the most scientific way.

National co-convener of the development cell and also the state in-charge, Mayankeshwar Singh, who is presently in Champaran, inspected a number of goshalas (cowshed) during his weeklong visit to the district.

Singh said the government was serious about growth of cows in India and has started giving subsidy to cow farmers.

Decrying cow slaughter, Singh said: “The number of cows has gone down from 19.5 crore in 1997 to 15 crore in India today.”

The national co-convener of the development cell also emphasised on the religious value of cow dung, cow urine and other cow products that are also mentioned in Indian religious epics.

Speaking about the positive response from the Bihar government, Singh added that growth of cows is directly related to the economic growth of the state.

He told The Telegraph that the government has included the cow programme in the development policy of the state and has started giving 50 per cent subsidy to cow farmers through the agriculture department.

Briefing about the oldest chailaha goshala in East Champaran, which was established in 1904 over an area of 200 acres, Singh said the recently started project of producing vermi compost with the help of nearly 130 cattle, is an encouraging step for the local farmers.

However, expressing his resentment over the present area of chailaha goshala, which has shrunk by 50 acres, Singh said out of five goshalas in the district, nearly 50 per cent have no cattle.

Singh said there have been reports of growing incidents of encroachment on goshala lands, especially when the sub-divisional officers concerned are the chairpersons of the land.

He said all the SDOs have been asked to get the encroached land vacated at once.

He expressed the need for a nationwide campaign to renovate a large number of goshalas in the country, which is essential for the development of villages to promote rural economy.