Target: Saurabh Bahuguna, Minister of Animal Husbandry, Government of Uttarakhand, India
Goal: Expand and strengthen cattle shelter schemes across Uttarakhand to permanently remove stray cattle from roads and fields and ensure humane care.
Stray cattle continue to wander on roads and agricultural land across Uttarakhand, endangering motorists, damaging crops, and suffering from hunger, injury, and neglect. While two new schemes have been introduced to provide shelter, food, and healthcare for stray cattle, their scope remains limited to rural areas, leaving many animals and communities unprotected.
Under the current schemes, individuals and cow shelters receive financial support to house stray cattle and provide care. These initiatives demonstrate that structured incentives can reduce roadside cattle presence while improving animal welfare. However, restricting these measures to select rural areas fails to address the broader, state-wide nature of the problem, especially near highways, towns, and peri-urban regions where accidents and injuries are frequent.
Stray cattle are a public safety issue, an animal welfare concern, and a livelihood threat for farmers. This petition calls for the expansion of these schemes across Uttarakhand, increased monitoring of animal care standards, and sufficient funding to ensure long-term shelter solutions rather than temporary containment.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Minister Bahuguna,
We are writing to urge the Government of Uttarakhand to expand and strengthen its cattle shelter schemes to address the widespread issue of stray cattle across the state. While the existing initiatives have provided relief in some rural areas, stray cattle continue to roam roads and fields in many regions, placing animals and people at serious risk.
Financial incentives for sheltering cattle, combined with free veterinary care, have proven effective in reducing roadside hazards and improving animal welfare. Limiting these schemes to a small geographic area leaves many cattle vulnerable to accidents, starvation, and neglect, while farmers and commuters continue to face preventable dangers.
We respectfully request the statewide expansion of these programs, adequate funding for cow shelters, and clear oversight to ensure humane care. A comprehensive approach will protect animals, support farmers, and improve public safety throughout Uttarakhand.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Gabriela Cheloni
