Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde Grants ‘Rajya Mata’ Status to Indigenous Cows
The Maharashtra government, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has taken significant steps to promote the welfare of indigenous cows. In a recent cabinet meeting, the government conferred the title of ‘Rajya Mata’ to these cows and approved a subsidy scheme offering Rs 50 per day for their rearing in goshalas.
The initiative, managed by the Maharashtra Goseva Commission, aims to support struggling goshalas and reverse the declining population of indigenous cows, which fell by 20.69% according to the 2019 census. Each district will have a District Goshala Verification Committee to oversee the implementation of the scheme.
Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis emphasized the importance of indigenous cows for farmers and announced additional support for their rearing. The state government also approved a 10% salary increase for Kotwals and an incentive subsidy for Gram Rozgar Sevaks.
Other measures include speeding up the subway work from Orange Gate to Marine Drive, providing interest-free secondary loan assistance to MMRDA, and accelerating the Thane circular metro rail project with a revised plan of Rs 12,200 crores.
The upcoming Maharashtra legislative assembly elections will be held in 288 constituencies, with a contest between the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition and the Maha Yuti Alliance.
Doubts Revealed
Maharashtra -: Maharashtra is a state in western India. It is known for its capital city, Mumbai, which is the financial hub of India.
CM -: CM stands for Chief Minister. The Chief Minister is the head of the government in an Indian state.
Eknath Shinde -: Eknath Shinde is the current Chief Minister of Maharashtra. He is a political leader responsible for making important decisions for the state.
Rajya Mata -: ‘Rajya Mata’ means ‘Mother of the State’. It is a special title given to indigenous cows to show respect and importance.
Indigenous cows -: Indigenous cows are cows that are native to India. They are different from foreign breeds and are well-suited to the Indian climate.
Subsidy scheme -: A subsidy scheme is a plan where the government gives money to help people or organizations. In this case, it helps people who take care of indigenous cows.
Goshalas -: Goshalas are shelters or homes for cows. They take care of cows, especially those that are old or abandoned.
Kotwals -: Kotwals are village guards or watchmen in India. They help maintain law and order in rural areas.
Gram Rozgar Sevaks -: Gram Rozgar Sevaks are village employment assistants. They help people in villages find jobs and work on development projects.
Thane circular metro rail -: The Thane circular metro rail is a planned metro train project in Thane, a city near Mumbai. It aims to improve transportation in the area.
