Mooving on: cows to 'reform' jail inmates in Haryana

After all being done in the name of the ‘holy cow’ in saffron-dominated Haryana, the government is now mulling over a plan to use cows to “reform” jail inmates.

According to the plan, each inmate, on completion of his jail term, will be gifted a cow. This, the government feels, will act as a therapy to expedite the reform process. After the Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP government came to power on its own for the first time, the bovine assumed a ‘holier-than-thou’ image with the state government announcing a slew of measures to protect cows.

Officials maintain that cow ignites a state of compassion among all and could help jail inmates overcome stress. The cow, which would be gifted, could also serve as their source of livelihood.

The government has also decided to open cattle pounds in state prisons, including jails in Karnal, Ambala, Jind, Bhiwani, Sonepat and Rohtak districts. Saffron-run state of Madhya Pradesh and a few other states, too, have cattle pounds in jails.

Gaushala therapy
The plan of ‘gaushala therapy’ for jail inmates was suggested by a spiritual leader, it is learnt, to which the chief minister accorded consent. Jail inmates will be directed to take care of the cattle inside the jail compound. Haryana has gone a long way in the name of cow protection, beginning with enactment of a new law to ban sale of beef and cow slaughter.  The act provides imprisonment of up to 10 years in the state. Haryana has also set up a cow protection task force headed by senior woman IPS officer Bharti Arora. The force — comprising at least 300 personnel, including 220 policemen — is entrusted with the task of preventing cow smuggling and slaughter among others.
A round-the-clock helpline, too, has been dedicated to deal with cruelty against cows. Hundreds of cows that were being smuggled out of state reportedly for slaughter have been rescued this year.

Incidents of conflicts involving vigilante groups, self-styled and other people, too, also increased this year.
DH News Service

Officials maintain that cow ignites a state of compassion among all and could help jail inmates overcome stress. The cow, which would be gifted, could also serve as their source of livelihood