Civic body plans to hand over Raipur Kalan gaushala to NGO

The Municipal Corporation has planned to hand over the operation and maintenance of the gaushala (cow shelter) at Raipur Kalan, which houses 500 cows, to a non-governmental organization (NGO). The civic body is running five such shelters in the city at this point.

Expressions of interest (EOI) have been invited from a society, NGO, self-help group (SHG), charitable institution and others to ensure humane treatment, care, and welfare of animals.

The responsibility of upkeep and maintenance of abandoned uneconomic cattle in Chandigarh falls on civic body under the provisions of the Punjab Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955. The shelters are being used for housing the impounded stray cattle as well.

As per the EOI, the selected applicant will be responsible to operate and maintain the gaushala free of cost, initially for a period of three years on the basis of yearly satisfactory performance. The period is further extendable on year-to-year basis up to a maximum five years.

The selected agency will provide sufficient work force and resources to manage the Gaushala in 24×7 mode for a period of three years and the scope of the services will include overall management of the shelter, management of the “govansh (impounded stray cattle)”, including monitoring their feeding and health.

The selected agency shall also be responsible for ensuring the day-to-day maintenance and security of the premises, including sanitation, hygiene and cleanliness. It shall ensure that the cows are fed suitably and given feed and fodder according to their body requirements and/or based on season/climate. The selected agency shall arrange for feed/fodder and medicine at its own expense and provide proper and timely feeding to cattle, including a balanced diet as recommended by veterinarians.

The milk collected from lactating cattle, meanwhile, shall be used to fulfill the requirements of calves born from non-milk yielding cattle. The utilization of rest of the milk and its by-products is allowed subject to the condition that the applicant submit monthly reports of the sale and its utilisation duly signed by official authorised by the civic body.

Chandigarh