-SATISH HANDA
In a notification, Haryana state government took decision to constitute ‘Cow Task Force’ in every district in order to make state stray animals free under a committee comprising of 11 members including five officers from different departments and six members of social welfare organizations under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner of the district to collect stray animals on the roads and lodge these animals in cow sheds. According to Shravan Garg Chairman State Gau Sewa Commission, 11 members committee hold a meeting every month and submit report to the commission.
The campaign to make state stra animals free was started in 10 districts in the state Fatehabad, Sirsa, Charkhi Dadri, Jhajjar, Rohtak, Hisar, Karnal. Kaithal, Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar in which 2234 stray animals were collected from roads and highways. According to available date, 140 stray cows were collected out of total number of 450 identified as stray animals on roads at Fatehabad, 465 cows were collected out of total number of 600 stray animals at Jhajjar, 200 cows were collected out of total number of 1800 stray animals at Rohtak, 250 cows were collected out of total number of 500 stray animals at Charkhi Dadri, 70 cows were collected out of total number of 2500 stray animals at Sirsa, 50 cows were collected out of total number of 2000 stray animals at Hisar, 100 cows were collected out of total number of 700 stray animals at Kaitahl, 150 cows were collected out of total number of 1000 stray animals at Kurukshetra, 100 cows were collected out of total number of 1200 stray animals at Karnal, and 9 cows were collected out of total number of123 animals at Yamunanagar.
It cannot be denied, large number of road mishaps are reported on roads including highway in the state due to stray animals in which according to an RTI information241 persons were reported died and countless people sustained injuries in these mishaps with effect from February 1 2018 to March 2, 2020 in the state. However, detail of such accidents is not available with State Traffic Police as well as Gau Sewa Commission. According to state Traffic Police Department, nearly 50 road accidents with stray animals are reported every day in which about 10 persons die +and several injure in the state, besides large number of animals die in these mishaps.
Information reveals, there are 578 identified cow sheds in Haryana state to accommodate cows but there is acute shortage of feeds in most of the cow sheds demanding financial aid from government for the purchase of feeds. Information also reveals that people as well as milk dairies leave cows in open when stop giving milk. According to Gau Sewa Commission, ‘Cow Task Force’ campaign has been started this month in four another district Ambala, Panipat, Jind and Bhiwani.
