Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai launched the Gaudham Yojana at Lakhasar village in Takhatpur development block of Bilaspur district on Saturday, inaugurating 29 cattle shelter facilities located across 11 districts in the first phase of the initiative. The scheme will be officially known as Surabhi Gaudham and aims to provide shelter, nutrition and care to stray, destitute and confiscated cattle across the state.
At the launch, the Chief Minister worshipped Gau Mata and inspected the Gaudham premises, reviewing arrangements for fodder supply, drinking water and veterinary care. The Lakhasar facility has been developed over nearly 25 acres of land, with 19 acres dedicated to green fodder cultivation. It is being managed by the Kamdhenu Gaushala Samiti.
Scheme Targets 1,460 Shelters, One in Every Development Block
Addressing the gathering, Sai said the government has set a target to establish 1,460 Gaudhams across Chhattisgarh, with 10 such facilities planned for every development block in the state. He said Godhan has always been a key pillar of Chhattisgarh’s rural culture and agricultural system, and that the government was committed to protecting it in a systematic and phased manner.
“The Gaudham Yojana aims to provide shelter and care for destitute, wandering, and confiscated cattle. Surabhi Gaudhams will function as training centres where local residents can learn advanced animal husbandry, modern fodder production, and manufacturing of value-added products from cow dung,” Sai said.
Financial Model and Subsidies
A tiered financial assistance model has been introduced for fodder and nutrition at the Gaudhams. The daily subsidy per animal will increase progressively each year to encourage long-term care, starting at Rs 10 per animal per day in the first year, rising to Rs 20 in the second year, Rs 30 in the third year and Rs 35 from the fourth year onwards. The government has also allocated Rs 5 lakh annually per facility for infrastructure repairs, and monthly honorariums will be provided for shepherds and Gau-sevaks working at the centres.
The scheme is designed to integrate cattle protection with skill development and self-employment for local communities, with the Gaudhams serving as training hubs for rural residents.
Congress Alleges BJP Only Changed the Name
The Opposition Congress has not taken the launch at face value. Party spokesperson Dhananjay Thakur alleged that the BJP government’s sole focus has been on renaming projects started by the previous Congress government. “The Congress government’s Gauthan Nyay Yojana had empowered the rural economy by providing a steady source of income to thousands of farmers, women’s self-help groups, and cattle rearers,” Thakur said, implying that the Surabhi Gaudham Yojana was little more than a repackaging of the earlier initiative under a new name.
