Cow welfare: Government to rope in corporates as part of CSR

JAIPUR: After making cow protection its pet project, the Rajasthan government now wants corporates to share the responsibility. The department of corporate social responsibility (CSR) will launch ‘Save the Cows’ initiative to urge companies to provide funds as part of CSR.
With bovines becoming a major issue in the state, the government is showing the way to corporates.It is preparing a plan for companies and advising them to replace plastic bags with jute, cloth and paper bags as part of CSR activity.
“Most cows die due to consumption of plastic. If we really care for them, we need to stop the usage of plastic bags. Under CSR, companies will be given the opportunity to manufacture bio-degradable bags and distribute them to shopkeepers and hawkers, who will in turn provide them free of cost to customers,” said Kunji Lal Meena, secretary, CSR department.
“It will have dual effect. We will ‘Save the Cow’ and the environment as well. The department is working on this idea,” added Meena.
To make the offer attractive, all contributing firms can have their companies branding on bags. To start with, a target of about 50 lakh bags has been set.
India is the first country in the world to include CSR in the Companies Act, 2013, mandating firms with a net worth of Rs 500 crore, turnover of Rs 1,000 crore or net profit of Rs 5 crore to spend at least 2% of the average net profit of the preceding three financial years on CSR activities.
Based on the success of this project, the government will make further plans on cattle welfare and rope in corporate houses. They will be asked to establish fodder supply centers and construct gaushalas.
“There has been a surge among companies that are spending on cattle welfare as part of CSR. Rajasthan has one of the biggest populations of cattle and if we are able to tap this, it will be win-win situation for both the government and companies,” said an official of the department.