Under Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, the Chhattisgarh government is implementing the Gautham Yojana, a program focused on strengthening the rural economy and enhancing livestock protection. This ambitious scheme is designed to ensure the safety and well-being of livestock while creating new employment opportunities through organic farming, fodder development, and cow-based industries. The Gautham Yojana is structured to provide care for abandoned and stray cattle, ensuring regular income for herders and cow-servants, thereby fostering economic stability and self-sufficiency in rural communities. The draft of the Gautham Yojana has received approval from the Finance and Livestock Development Department. The core objectives of the scheme include the scientific preservation and enhancement of bovine animals, promoting cow-derived products, supporting fodder development initiatives, establishing Gautham centers as training hubs, generating employment for villagers, and preventing both animal and human casualties from crop damage and accidents. The plan places significant emphasis on the safety of animals seized during smuggling operations or found as strays. The state already enforces a ban on illegal animal transportation, and law enforcement seizes numerous bovine animals at inter-state borders. The scheme aims to provide a safe haven for these animals and stray cattle, with each Gautham designed to accommodate up to 200 bovine animals, based on its capacity.
