Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Monday flagged off an exclusive ambulance service for cows, complete with veterinarians and assistants.
The Gauvansh Chikitsa mobile van service will transport ill or injured cows to gau shalas or to a veterinary facility. A toll-free gau seva number has been released for the people to report about cows in distress.
Mr. Maurya, who posted pictures of the event on his Facebook page, flagged off five such ambulances from his official residence here. In its initial phase, the service will be available in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Mathura and Allahabad. The ambulance service is being run in collaboration with the MGNREGA Mazdoor Kalyan Sanghathan, an organisation that says it works for labourers and others employed in the informal sector. Its president, Sanjay Rai, says the organisation has a presence in five states.
Action against negligence
A brochure released by Mr. Rai says his organisation plans to take action against those people who abandon their cows once they stop giving milk, and also against municipal officials if cows are forced to eat polythene or plastic items dumped on the streets.
A few days ago, a similar project was reported in Khargone district of BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh.
