States like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh too have decided to set up cow shelters in jails.
For inmates of the Morshi open jail, a respectable life after their release will come through gau seva. The Maharashtra prisons department will launch its first such project at the correctional facility in Amravati wherein convicts will rear desi cows and manufacture and market organic A-2 milk, panchagavya and incense sticks using bovine by-products like cow dung and cow urine.
States like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh too have decided to set up cow shelters in jails.
Yogesh Desai, Deputy Inspector General of Prisons (Eastern Region), said inmates would take care of cows, manufacture products like gobar gas and panchagavya for sale and use these animals for organic farming.
“These products can be given to nearby jails, local markets or ayurvedic companies as raw material,” he added. Desai said this will ensure gainful employment for the inmates. Some jails in Maharashtra use bovines for farming.
Ashok Malwad, superintendent, Morshi open jail, said they would accommodate 50 cows in the Rs 1 crore project to be launched by June. “Their milk will be given to the around 200 convicts in our jail and other prisons,” he explained.
Malwad added inmates would be trained in manufacturing organic insecticides, phenyl, panchagavya, gobar gas, incense and dhoop sticks and vermi-compost from cow dung and urine. These products can be sold to people.
Dr Radheshyam Bahadure, assistant commissioner, animal husbandry, said high-milk yielding desi breeds like Gir, Sahiwal and Tharparkar would be housed at the premises with a few bulls for draught purposes. Bovines rescued by the police while being transported for illegal slaughter can also be housed.
"An important purpose is to ensure that inmates get gainful employment and the larger society sees them not as ex-convicts but as human beings. It will also create a psycological attachment in them for animals and bring their softer side to the fore, reducing chances of recidivism,” explained Bahadure.
Dr Anil Bonde, BJP MLA from Morshi said the cowdung and urine could be used for organic farming on the 256 acre farmland in the open jail. This healthy farm produce can be sold.
Part of the jail premises including the cow shed could be used for “jail tourism” with a garden and play area for children being created, he added.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "cows")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}