The administration of Rajasthan Pradesh, India will set up a separate ministry for the development, preservation and protection of cows.
The ministry will oversee a world university on cow-science, special security for prevention of smuggling and incentives to promote cow-pens and herders.
BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP)-sponsored Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje made the announcement in her Twitter account in line with the party’s manifesto, The Hindu reported.
BJP, which was elected to power in Rajasthan recently, is said to be planning to declare the cow as the state animal for the largest Pradesh of India.
“Indigenous livestock protection should concern any sensitive government and BJP has taken the lead in that direction,” said BJP Spokesperson in Rajasthan Jyoti Kiran.
India is one of the world’s biggest beef exporters, second only to Brazil and is likely to export nearly two million tonnes of meat this year.
BJP’s Prime Ministerial Candidate Narendra Modi had called for an end to this export and criticised the cow-related policies of the Congress in the past.
BJP attempted to introduce a ban on cow slaughter and sale of beef in Karnataka Pradesh in the past but failed without approval of Indian the president.
India is a region with a majority Hindu population, for whom the cow is considered a sacred animal.
