No Water or Electricity, Madhya Pradesh Gaushalas Running on Jugaad

In a recent review conducted by the Panchayat Department, it has been revealed that the conditions of gaushalas (cow shelters) in the Vindhya, Bundelkhand, and Gwari-Chambal regions of Central India are deplorable. Shockingly, out of the 1,000 government-funded gaushalas built under the Mukhyamantri Goseva Yojana, 600 lack basic amenities such as water and electricity. Consequently, 450 cowsheds remain deserted, while the remaining 150 are barely functioning with the help of makeshift arrangements or jugaad.

Encroachment on Pasture Lands

The dire situation extends beyond the lack of essential services. The 5-acre lands allocated for pasture development have also fallen prey to encroachment. Disturbingly, 148 gaushalas have reported encroachments on their allocated lands. Among them, Guna district alone has witnessed encroachments on the lands of 95 gaushalas, raising serious concerns about the efficacy and oversight of the Mukhyamantri Goseva Yojana.

Funding Shortfalls and Negligence

The Panchayat Department's report reveals that all these gaushalas were constructed within the last four and a half years using funds provided by the government's MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) scheme. However, the budget allocation did not explicitly include provisions for borewell installations and electricity connections. As a result, instructions were given to raise resources from the 15th Finance Commission through the panchayats. Regrettably, neither the panchayats showed interest nor did the department prioritize these essential requirements.

According to a Dainik Bhaskar report, Akhileshwaranand Giri, the chairman of the Cow Promotion Board, criticized the hasty selection of locations without access to water sources or power lines. He emphasized that the plan for constructing cow shelters was introduced by the Congress government recently. Giri revealed that efforts were underway to secure water arrangements through the PHE (Public Health Engineering) department, and funds for electricity connections and MNREGA had been allocated.

Regional Disparities

The regions most affected by the lack of electricity and water facilities in gaushalas are Gwalior-Chambal, Bundelkhand, and Vindhya. In Morena district alone, out of the 104 gaushalas, only 29 have access to electricity and water, and only 25 of them are operational. This dire situation has resulted in 79 gaushalas remaining deserted due to inadequate infrastructure and resources. Similarly, in the Sehore district, out of 27 gaushalas, only 14 have access to water and electricity, while 9 continue to rely on jugaad.

The Extent of the Problem

The lack of electricity and water facilities is not limited to a few districts. Morena has 75 gaushalas without these essential services, followed by Chhatarpur with 53, Rajgarh with 52, Rewa with 51, Datia with 40, Shivpuri with 35, Vidisha with 23, Guna with 12, Bhind with 19, Sheopur with 16, and Satna with 16.

Immediate Action Required

Given the alarming state of gaushalas in Central India, it is imperative for the concerned authorities to take immediate action. The government should prioritize the provision of water and electricity facilities in these cow shelters, as well as address the encroachment issues plaguing the allocated pasture lands. Adequate funding and better coordination between government departments and local panchayats are crucial for successfully implementing initiatives like the Mukhyamantri Goseva Yojana.

Failure to address these issues not only compromises the welfare of the cows but also reflects poorly on the government's commitment to animal welfare and rural development. The plight of these gaushalas must be urgently addressed to ensure the well-being of the animals and the effectiveness of government initiatives in the future.