Maharashtra Cow Politics: In a new development aimed at supporting cow shelters, the Maharashtra government has approved a subsidy of Rs 50 per cow per day, equating to Rs 1,500 per month. This mirrors the financial aid provided to women under the states Ladki Bahin Yojana, a scheme benefiting women between the ages of 21 and 65 from families with an annual income of less than Rs 2.5 lakh.Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced the new initiative on Monday, emphasizing that it will aid in preserving indigenous cow breeds. This move comes ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections and follows concerns raised about the states financial strain due to revenue deficits.Gaushalas to receive financial strengtheningThe government has noted that many gaushalas (cow shelters) face severe financial difficulties, and the new scheme is expected to strengthen them financially. The scheme will be managed by the Maharashtra Goseva Commission and implemented through an online system. The state has elevated its indigenous cow breeds to the status of Rajyamata-Gomata, recognizing them as the mother of the state.According to the 20th animal census conducted in 2019, Maharashtra saw a significant decline in the number of indigenous cows, with the population dropping 20% from the previous census to 46,13,632. The subsidy scheme aims to halt this decline and promote the preservation of these breeds.Financial concerns amid revenue deficitsThe subsidy announcement comes at a time when Maharashtras finance department has warned of “financial pressure” due to new schemes and ongoing revenue deficits. Over the weekend, reports emerged that the finance department expressed concerns about the states ability to handle additional financial commitments.These concerns were raised in response to a proposal by the sports department to allocate Rs 1,781 crore for the construction of sports complexes across the state. Despite these warnings, the state government approved the proposal.Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also commented on the issue, noting that the Rs 46,000-crore Ladki Bahin Yojana might result in delays to other subsidy payments.Other states with gaushala subsidiesMaharashtra is not the first state to provide financial aid to gaushalas. Similar subsidies have been introduced in Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. For instance, in Madhya Pradesh, NGOs running gaushalas receive Rs 20 per cow per day. Haryana offers Rs 20 per day for calves and Rs 30 per day for cows, while Uttar Pradesh allocated Rs 125 crore in 2023 to build cattle shelters at the rate of Rs 50 per cow. Rajasthans government provides between Rs 20 to Rs 40 per animal for cattle in shelters.Announcement comes ahead of electionsWith the Maharashtra Assembly term set to end on November 26, the Election Commission has yet to announce the official poll schedule. The timing of the subsidy announcement has raised speculation about its influence on the upcoming elections, particularly as cow protection remains a sensitive issue in Indian politics.
