Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav asserted on Friday that the state BJP government has prioritized cow protection and dairy promotion with the aim to double the income of dairy farmers by increasing milk production, and raising the state’s contribution to India’s milk production from the present nine per cent to 20 per cent.
The CM said that to achieve this target, the ‘Dugdh Samriddhi Sampark’ campaign is being conducted across villages, where veterinary doctors are visiting homes to educate farmers about advanced dairy farming techniques, breed improvement, animal health, and nutrition. The year 2024–25 has been observed as the Year of Cow Protection and Promotion in the state.
Dr Yadav stated that cow, and cattle rearing hold a sacred place in India’s ancient Sanatan culture. “Those who engage in cattle rearing are true ‘Gopals,’ and every home where cows are reared is a ‘Gokul’,” he said.
Dr Yadav announced that the Govardhan Festival will be celebrated across Madhya Pradesh on 21 October in accordance with local traditions and rituals. Special participation of cowsheds and dairy farmers will be ensured. Entrepreneurs and innovators who have made notable contributions to animal husbandry and milk production will be honored during the celebrations.
The main event will be held at Ravindra Bhavan, Bhopal, featuring rituals like Govardhan Puja, Parikrama, and Annakoot Bhog. Traditional performances such as Bareli and Thatya dances by cattle herding communities will be showcased. Stalls featuring organic products, dairy items, and cow dung–based crafts will be set up, along with awareness booths on various government schemes related to animal husbandry, agriculture, and cooperatives.
Activities to promote rural livelihoods through dairy production and the Vrindavan Gram Yojana will also be conducted. On this occasion, Anganwadi centers across districts will distribute food items made from panchagavya products such as ghee, milk, paneer, and curd.
The Dugdh Samriddhi Sampark Campaign was launched across the state on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on 2 October. Under the campaign, veterinary teams visited villages and interacted with farmers to provide information on breed improvement, artificial insemination, vaccination, animal health, balanced feed, and nutrition.
Farmers were educated on cost-effective methods to increase milk yield and profitability. During the first phase, over 3.7 lakh dairy farmers owning 10 or more cows or buffaloes were personally contacted by field officers, who also addressed their problems on-site.
The campaign focused primarily on enhancing milk productivity and income. Ministers, MPs, MLAs, divisional commissioners, collectors, and senior officers participated and interacted with dairy farmers. The farmers enthusiastically took part in the initiative and shared their experiences.
The CM reiterated that the Madhya Pradesh government is fully committed to improving cattle protection, rearing, and management. The grant for cattle feed in cowsheds has been doubled from ₹20 to ₹40 per animal per day.
Similarly, the budget for cattle upkeep has increased from ₹90 crore two years ago, to ₹250 crore last year, and further to ₹600 crore for FY 2025–26. The grant amount is directly transferred to cowshed bank accounts through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer), with ₹50 crore disbursed monthly.
The CM informed that currently, 2,900 cowsheds are operational across Madhya Pradesh, managing around 4.25 lakh cattle. Under the Mukhyamantri Go-Seva Yojana, 2,203 cowsheds have been established in rural areas, housing 2.11 lakh cattle.
Over the past year, more than 1,000 new cowsheds have been opened, providing shelter to over one lakh animals. In urban areas, large modern cowsheds have been established in Gwalior, Ujjain, and Indore. In Bhopal, a mega cowshed with a capacity of 10,000 cattle is being constructed on 69.18 acres at a cost of ₹45 crore, expected to be completed within a year.
The Salariya Cow Sanctuary and Research & Production Center in Agar-Malwa district currently houses 6,500 cattle.
The CM said that the state has introduced an innovative policy to make cowsheds self-sustainable—the ‘Swavalambi Cowshed (Gokul Dham) Policy 2025’. Under this policy, for managing at least 5,000 cattle, the government will allocate up to 130 acres of land, including 5 acres for commercial activities. Madhya Pradesh is the first state in India to adopt such a model.
So far, 4,235 acres have been allotted across 18 districts, and tenders have been issued in 13 districts, including Mandsaur, Jabalpur, Raisen, Damoh, Sagar, Panna, Vidisha, Satna, Ashoknagar, Chhatarpur, Ratlam, Shajapur, and Bhind.
The CM also stated that Madhya Pradesh is the first Indian state to impose a complete legal ban on cow slaughter. The Madhya Pradesh Cow Slaughter Prohibition Act, 2004 (amended in 2010) provides for 7 years’ imprisonment for cow slaughter and 3 years for possession or transport of beef.
The law was further strengthened under the 2024 Amendment, introducing provisions for government seizure (confiscation) of vehicles used for illegal cattle transport.