Question: Government of which of the following States has recently started the scheme to pay Rs. 900 per month to farmers who keep the stray cattle?
(a) Uttar Pradesh
(b) Madhya Pradesh
(c) Rajasthan
(d) Punjab
Answer: (a)
Related facts:
- On March 3, 2020, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a scheme for the farmers willing to maintain stray livestock.
- Earlier in 2019, farmers protested in Uttar Pradesh over stray cattle that were destroying their fields.
- The population of stray livestock inside the state considerably increased because the UP Government had banned unlawful animal slaughtering within the State.
- Initially, cow shelters had been built to undertake abandoned stray cattle; however, they soon became overflowing places.
- This proved financially hard for the UP Government to take care of such a big numbers of cattle (10-12 lakh). In order to seek remedy the State Government had introduced Chief Minister Destitute Cow Participation Scheme.
- Under the scheme, interested farmers can adopt a cow from the shelters and take them home; in return government will transfer Rs 900 per month to their bank account for the up-keep and nutrition of the animal.