Centre sets up panel for research on benefits of cow

The government has set up a 19-member panel, including three members linked to the RSS and the VHP, to carry out what it says will be scientifically validated research on cow-derivatives, including its urine, and their benefits, according to an interdepartmental circular and members of the panel.

Headed by Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan, the committee will select projects that can help scientifically validate the benefits of panchagavya — the concoction of cow dung, cow urine, milk, curd and ghee — in various spheres such as nutrition, health and agriculture, reads the circular.

Named the National Steering Committee, the panel includes secretaries of the departments of science and technology, biotechnology, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, and scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi.

It also has three members of Vigyan Bharti and ‘Go-Vigyan Anusandhan Kendra’, outfits affiliated to the RSS and the VHP.

The development comes at a time when the cow has become an emotive issue in the country with increased incidents of so-called “gau-rakshaks” lynching cattle traders and others suspected of smuggling cows.

The government has given the project the acronym SVAROP, which stands for Scientific Validation and Research on Panchagavya, and said it is a “national programme”.

The document also said“the multi-disciplinary programme” will involve participation of other related ministries, government departments, academic institutions, research laboratories, voluntary organisations and others “to carry out research and development and also build capacities, even at grassroots level, and cover five thematic areas, including scientific validation of uniqueness of indigenous cows”.

It will cover “scientific validation of ‘panchagavya’ for medicines and health, scientific validation of ‘panchagavya’ and its products for agriculture applications, scientific validation of ‘panchagavya’ for food and nutrition and scientific validation of Panchagavya based utility product,” the circular states.