Maharashtra News: Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has officially announced that the cow is now the ‘Rajya Mata’ or State Mother, just before the scheduled soon elections in the state. It is a significant move by the state government in the direction of preserving the country’s spiritual and socio-economic heritage, symbolizing the importance that the cows carry deep within Indian tradition.
Concern Over Indigenous Cow Breeds
Maharashtra government voiced its concern over the increasing drop in indigenous cow breeds in the country. Being aware of the fact that a cow is a sacred animal in the Hindu religion, where such cattle are sometimes known as “mother,” this project signifies that those animals, although worshiped in religion and considered an integral part of agriculture and rural development, are very important. Milk, dung, and urine are the products of cows. Products of cows are sacred and have several benefits to man: the milk for its rich nutritious value, cow dung for agricultural sustainability, and the supposed healing attributes of cow urine.
The Role of Cows in Agriculture and Rural Development
The statement further motivates the cattle rearing by the government to rear indigenous cows in the vicinity, stating that they are of great importance in sustainable farming. The dung from cows is highly promoted for eco-friendly agriculture, whereas cow milk has been advocated due to its health status. Again, it has been well noted that cow urine possesses certain medicinal properties, thus explaining the importance of cow conservation in Indian society.
Preserving Tradition and Supporting Development
This declaration happens at a very critical juncture of the time when Maharashtra is looking forward to elections as the present government’s tenure will end on 26th November, 2024. The Election Commission of India has already begun preliminary works ahead of the polls scheduled post-Diwali festival in November. Model code of conduct is likely to become operative from the first week of October.
As chief election commissioner, Rajiv Kumar stated that if the process of voting makes it inconvenient for voters, strong action shall not be spared and that it aims at making sure that the polling stations have essential facilities. The government’s efforts at strengthening rural development and safeguarding cultural lifestyles go hand in glove with revealing the cow as ‘Rajya Mata.’ It simultaneously gives an inkling into the prevailing political climate before state elections.