Maharashtra government declares desi cows ‘Rajyamata-Gomata’

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| Photo Credit: EMMANUAL YOGINI

Maharashtra Government on Monday (September 30, 2024) declared desi (indigenous) cows as ‘Rajyamata-Gomata’ considering factors like their significance since Vedic period, an official notification said.

The other factors include the importance of indigenous cow milk in human nutrition, ayurvedic and panchgavya treatment and use of cow manure in organic farming, the government resolution, issued by the state Agriculture, Dairy Development, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department said.

“Desi or indigenous cows enjoy an important position in India’s culture since Vedic period. Considering the significance of cow’s milk in human food, in ayurvedic treatment, etc, the government has given permission to declare the indigenous cows as ‘Rajmata-Gomata’,” the notification said.

The decision, which comes ahead of the state assembly elections, underscores the cow’s spiritual, scientific, and historical significance in Indian society, an official said. It highlights the integral role that cows have played in India’s cultural landscape for centuries, he added.

By taking this decision, the State government has underscored the agricultural benefits of cow dung, which enhances soil fertility and contributes to human nutrition and shows the government’s efforts to promote sustainable farming practices, he said.

(with inputs from PTI)