Lucknow, July 6: In order to promote cow protection, the Uttar Pradesh government has allocated Rs 20 million for setting up cow shelters in 12 district jails across the state. India Today quoted State Prison Minister Jai Kumar Singh as saying that the cow shelters will be opened in district jails of Meerut, Gorakhpur, Sultanpur, Kanpur Dehat, Balrampur, Noida, Firozabad, Kannauj, Agra, Barabanki, Sitapur and Raebareli. The shelters will serve as homes for abandon and old cows.

Besides this, Rs 81.6 crore will be spent to open gaushalas in 68 districts of the state. The ministers also said that with this move prisoners would not only get fresh milk but also fresh vegetables as cowdung can be used to produce organic vegetables. As per the minister, it will also create a good environment.

People of Hindu religion worship cow. Leaders of various Hindu groups have welcomed the move. President of Ram Janma Bhoomi Mahant Nritya Gopal Dasji Maharaj told ANI, "The prison inmates, otherwise sitting idle, will have the prospect of serving cows. This will lead them in the right direction and to a clear conscience. I appreciate this decision taken by the Yogi Adityanath government."

Last year, Gau Sewa Aayog had sought a list state's Prison Administration and Reform Services of jails for setting up cowsheds. According to the government, prisoners will also get employment with the move. After Yogi Adityanath became chief minister of the state, the ban was imposed in the state against the killing of cows. Illegal slaughterhouses had also been shut down by the government. Subsequently, the number of abandon cows in the state increased due to which the Yogi government approved the decision to set up cow shelters in the 12 districts.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 06, 2018 09:24 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).