The veterinary department in the Prayagraj district of Uttar Pradesh will provide shelters for the cattle in the state cow shelters to protect them from the winter. The cow shelters will also be covered with thick polyethylene curtains to save the animals from high winds, authorities said.
The officials involved have begun to make arrangements for coats that will be made from old jute bags to keep the cows warm.
Cow shelters have been built in rural areas to keep stray cattle where they are cared for and given fodder and water. The arrangements in the cow shelters are under the supervision of the village panchayats and the keepers are in charge of the task.
Currently, there are 113 working cow shelters in Prayagraj district, of which 110 are temporary and three permanent. The veterinary department closely monitors the health of the cows and conducts regular medical examinations and treatments on more than 13,000 cows in these shelters, authorities said.
With the onset of winter, the government had issued instructions to prevent cows from biting the cold, which can be detrimental to their health. Officials began the campaign to cover cow shelters with thick polyethylene curtains or tarps to stop the cold wind. Jute bags will also be sewn to make curtains and thick covers. The jute bags will be provided by the district supply department.
Chief Veterinarian RP Rai said the district supply department will take jute bags from stores at fair prices and provide them to make covers and coats. Gram panchayats will make the coats and cover the cow shelters with polyethylene and other materials. The expenses will be covered with the budget of the MNREGS.
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