Maharashtra Legislative Assembly passed a bill enabling the constitution of the Goseva Ayog (cow welfare commission) for the preservation, protection and welfare of cows and other cattle.
Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said the government wants to encourage institutions such as Gosadan, Goshala, Panjarpol and Gorakshan Sanstha engaged in conservation of local bovine breeds, their genetic improvement and fodder development.
It also wants to ensure active cooperation of such institutions for increasing the productivity of milch animals, the minister said while tabling the bill.
The Goseva Ayog will register such institutions and supervise their functioning, he said. The bill seeks to encourage, among other things, the breeding of indigenous cattle including non-descript cattle.
It also aims at cultivation and production of improved varieties of fodder and encourage pasture development activities, the minister said.