Gautham Yojana in Chhattisgarh: A Comprehensive Plan for Animal Welfare and Rural Development

Chhattisgarh’s Gautham Yojana, spearheaded by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, represents a significant step towards rural empowerment and livestock preservation. The initiative seeks to improve animal welfare, enhance cattle breeds, and create employment opportunities. The program is designed to care for abandoned and stray cattle, providing a steady income for herders and cow-servants. This should promote economic stability and self-sufficiency in rural areas. The scheme has been approved by the Finance and Livestock Development Department. The goals of the Gautham Yojana are multifaceted. They include protecting and improving the breeds of bovine animals using scientific methods, promoting cow-based products, encouraging programs that develop animal feed, creating training centers, providing employment, and preventing damage from crops and accidents. The scheme will particularly focus on protecting animals seized during illegal transport or those that are stray. The state has already banned illegal animal smuggling, and many cattle are seized at the borders. The Gautham Yojana will provide shelter for these animals, with each center having a capacity of up to 200 animals. The Gautham Yojana will provide a monthly honorarium of Rs 10,916 to herders and Rs 13,126 to cow-servants. Additionally, they will receive a daily allowance for the animals’ feed. The best Gautham will get Rs 10 per animal per day in the first year, Rs 20 in the second, Rs 30 in the third, and Rs 35 in the fourth.