Cowed by RSS, Raman brings gaushala to jail

RAIPUR, OCTOBER 19 : Here’s another RSS experiment. The Raman Singh government in Chhattisgarh is banking on cows to make prisoners more humane and as part of the strategy has started a cow shelter at Raipur Central Jail with 24 bovines.

This is not the first time Chhattisgarh has used bovines to improve the society. The government had earlier announced that it will distribute a milch cow to each tribal family in the state. However, the scheme, which was part of the BJP’s election promises, failed miserably.

According to party sources, the government’s failure to implement the poll promise enraged the RSS. Soon, the Chief Minister announced decided to provide a pair of oxen to each farmer. However, this too proved to be a non-starter, forcing the government to initiate this latest step to please the RSS.

Meanwhile, defending the decision to establish the cow shelter, Dr Raman Singh said the animals will help the jail inmates immensely. “Serving the cows will generate more sensitivity in them. Through a prolonged interaction with the animals, they will be able to develop their character and work towards reintegration into the society,” the CM added.

Acharya Kamal Muni Kamlesh, the brain behind the project, feels the “sacred cows” have the power to connect with even the most inhumane of creatures. “Apart from helping to build the character of the prisoners, the move will also help generated biogas for the prison,” he reasoned.

All cows at the Raipur shelter have been donated by various NGOs. The government plans to increase the number of cows in the next few months. There is some good news for the prisoners too. They will get a 15-day relaxation in the total sentence as part of the deal.

Accepting the Acharya’s proposals, the Chief Minister has now decided to establish cow shelters in other prisons as well.

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/14997.html