Double allowance for cows in Madhya Pradesh, but why it will not work

Bhopal:

Hello, dear readers! I am Gauri, who is a glorious resident in Madhya Pradesh. Today, I have some big news to share – for me, my fellow cows and humans caring for us. The state government has finally decided to double our daily allowances! Yes, you heard it right – Rs. 20 We used to get Rs. 40. But before you start celebrating, let me tell you what it really means for us.

Government’s big announcement

Finance Minister Jagdish Devda recently announced in the state budget that the daily grant for cows in shelters will increase from Rs. 20 to Rs. 40. More than 3,45,000 cows like me live in around 2,200 cows across Madhya Pradesh, and the government has Rs. 505 crore under cow protection and animal protection scheme. The plan is to establish more self -sufficient gaushals. Looks great, don’t you?

But here is reality…

I introduce me to Brijesh Vyas with my caretaker, Mahamarisunjay Goseva Sadan. He takes care of 770 of us with love and dedication, but even he accepts that when it is welcome to financial aid, it comes with challenges.

“Inflation has increased, the cost of fodder is 700–800 per quintal, and we receive payment after 2-3 months. The money for December has come in March,” they say. Imagine if your salary was delayed by months – how will you manage?

Political promises and reality check

Cows like me have always been a hot subject in elections. Prior to the last assembly elections, both BJP and Congress made grand promises. The Congress vowed farmers to buy cow dung, while the BJP promised to make better grazing land and healthcare for us.

Congress also increased our daily allowance to Rs. 40 – And now this promise is finally being fulfilled, but a big issue remains: timely payment and real implementation.
Madhya Pradesh also has a cow cabinet and a cow summit board, but let’s be honest – our carers are still struggling.

Grants come late months, and even Rs. 40 One day it is barely enough to cover our food. Just ask Subhash Sharma, director of Mother Gayatri Gaushala in Bhopal, where 140 of us live.

“They also do not give 20 rupees. Daily. Payments come every 3-4 months,” they say.

Feed cows on money. 40 a day – is possible?

If you think Rs. 40 is enough, let’s break it. My daily diet includes:
Fodder – at least Rs. 60-70 per day
Water and Supplement – Additional Expenditure
Healthcare – Emergency Medical Cost

Even in Mahamarisunjay Gaushala, where the injured and abandoned cows are given shelter like me, our caretaker Govind Vyas spends his pension to support us. “One cow per month is Rs 10,000 per month. He asks.

Big picture

There are two types of cow shelters in Madhya Pradesh:
* 618 privately managed Gaushals, habitat of about 1.5 lakh cows.
* 1,800 Gaushal built by government, shelter to 2.8 lakh cows.

The government claims that it provides funds for more than 4 lakh cows, but ask any Goshala operator and you will hear the same story – delay, financial conflict and insufficient support.

The government’s decision to increase our allowances is a step in the right direction, but without timely payment and proper execution, this is just another electoral promise. For now, we will continue to rely on the cow’s kind-hearted humans who visit our shelters with extra fodder. Some come out of devotion, some for good deeds, and some only because they care.