Context: The Uttar Pradesh government announced a plan to explore “cow tourism” in the state.
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- As part of this initiative, the government aims to make cow shelters self-reliant by establishing one ideal cow shelter in every district as a tourist attraction.
- The initiative aims to transform cow shelters (gaushalas) into self-reliant, income-generating centres by developing them into local tourist attractions.
- As part of this plan, the government will establish one model cow shelter in every district, inviting tourists to experience India’s traditional and spiritual connection with cows.
- This effort is not only intended to support cow protection but also to generate employment opportunities and promote local industries.
- The government will also push for the commercial use of cow-based products like dung, urine, milk, and ghee.
- These will be marketed at local levels, especially through the involvement of women self-help groups (SHGs), who will manufacture and sell items such as eco-friendly lamps and decorations made from cow dung, particularly during festivals like Diwali.
- Livestock and Dairy Development Minister Dharampal Singh stated that a large-scale Diwali campaign will be launched to promote manure-based lamps and other green products.
- This initiative comes after years of building cow shelters to tackle the stray cattle problem in Uttar Pradesh. While the government continues to support cattle upkeep, the current focus is on long-term sustainability by creating revenue-generating models within the shelters.
Uttar Pradesh’s Role in Livestock Sector
Complementary Government Initiatives in UP
