Save traditional graziers in rural India: Kumaraswamy

Shimoga, Karnataka, Apr 22 (UNI) The traditional concept of village and small town based graziers called 'Gomala' is fast diminishing due to development and rapid urbanisation and evey effort should be made to protect them, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has said.

Speaking after inaugurating the first-ever 'World Cow Conference', organised by the Ramachandrapur mutt at Hosanagar in the district last evening, he said Gomalas played a key role in agriculture in rural India and the old generations protected these fields well. But, now due to urbanisation, graziers were disappearing and cattle suffered due to lack of fodder, he rued.

Thousands of people were making a beeline to the venue of the nine-day conference.

Mr Kumaraswamy said dairying was not just a rural-based vocation anymore and a vast number of people now depended on it. ''We should all understand the importance of cow, nourishing the whole family throughout the year.'' He said the State Government would spend Rs 28 crore for setting up modern veterinary hospitals in villages and the work had begun.

He appreciated the efforts made by seer Sri Raghaveshwar Bharathi of the mutt to organise the conference.

Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said the JD(S)-BJP coalition Government would provide land on contract basis and financial assistance to organisations and persons coming forward to protect cows under a special scheme. Though the scheme was introduced last year, the response was poor.

UNI