BJP-led Assam govt’s cow distribution programme runs into rough weather

Guwahati: The BJP-led Assam government has been distributing cows under the CM’s rural development programme since April 5, after the model code of conduct came into effect. While implementation of such a scheme would require clearance by the Election Commission, the poll panel has denied any knowledge of the programme.
Five seats in the state go to the polls on Thursday. “I am not aware of this,” Assam chief electoral officer Mukesh Sahu told TOI when asked if the government had acquired clearance for the programme.

The state directorate of dairy development, with active support from the veterinary department, has distributed 322 cows to beneficiaries with funding from the Chief Minister Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana.

The department of animal husbandry and veterinary claimed it had obtained clearance from the “state election commission”. “The urgent need of cattle distribution was brought to the notice of the State Election Commission after placing the matter in the steering committee headed by the chief secretary and the State Election Commission, Assam has cleared the proposal ... The question of violation of the model code of conduct does not arise,” it said.

However, the state election commission conducts the panchayat and civic body elections only, and is not responsible for the Lok Sabha election — which is under the EC’s purview.

Besides, the cows, acquired from military dairy farms that were closed down eventually, were supposed to be distributed earlier, the department said. The application process for beneficiaries was announced in July last year, “much before the current imposition of the model code of conduct”.

“Due to delays and legal complications in the bidding process for transportation of the cows from military farms in West Bengal, the programme’s governing body decided to go with the army’s proposal to transport them in army vehicles to the quarantine site at Nazirakhat in Sonapur on the outskirts of Guwahati,” a statement issued by the department of animal husbandry and veterinary said.

It added, “As a result of this delay and the deadline set by army farms to clear their stock by March 31 this year, other state governments started acquiring their cattle. Assam’s initial demand of 2,556 heads of cattle was reduced to 539 only for translocation to the state.”

Of these, 13 died and 14 turned critically ill because of “injuries received during transit, transit stress and changes in climatic adaptability”. “As a result, 512 animals were left for distribution. It was decided 190 would be housed in five government-owned livestock farms and the remaining 322 would be distributed — two cattle for every selected dairy cooperative society on a first-come-first-serve basis,” the department said.

The department also cited the difficulty of looking after “large number of cattle for long period in the quarantine site” as a reason for immediate distribution.