Stray cattle remain among top priorities of the Yogi government with this year’s budget also earmarking a major chunk of funds for feeding them and construction of more conservation centres in the state.
The Buget-2025-26 presented in the assembly on Thursday proposed allocation of ₹2,000 crore to maintain stray cattle and another ₹140 crore to establish 140 large cow conservation centres during the forthcoming financial year.
The previous year’s budget had provided ₹1,000 crore for stray cattle maintenance, though the same was revised upwardly in the middle of the year when the government decided to increase the daily maintenance allowance from ₹30 to ₹50 per cattle.
“A budget of ₹2,000 crore is proposed to maintain stray cows while ₹140 crore is proposed to establish large cow conservation centers. A budget of ₹123 crore is also proposed for strengthening veterinary hospitals/animal service centres,” finance minister Suresh Khanna said in his Budget speech.
As per the Budget speech, around 12.50 lakh stray cattle are protected/conserved in a total 7713 cow shelters across the state. As many as 1.63 lakh stray cattle were handed over to over 1 lakh cattle keepers under the Mukhyamantri Nirashrit Govansh Sahbhagita Yojana and Poshan Mission.
{{/usCountry}}As per the Budget speech, around 12.50 lakh stray cattle are protected/conserved in a total 7713 cow shelters across the state. As many as 1.63 lakh stray cattle were handed over to over 1 lakh cattle keepers under the Mukhyamantri Nirashrit Govansh Sahbhagita Yojana and Poshan Mission.
{{/usCountry}}Last year’s Budget put the number of stray cattle and cow protection centres at 14.38 lakh and 7,239 cow shelters besides 303 large centres.
The original Budget last year allocated ₹3,589 crore against ₹4,300 cr this year. However, the allocation was later revised to ₹4,590 crore when the state government decided to increase the daily cow maintenance allowance last year.