CM Meets Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in Bengaluru, Discusses Natural Farming and Stray Cattle Welfare.
Bengaluru:
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu called on renowned spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at the Art of Living Foundation Ashram in Bengaluru on Wednesday and sought his blessings during the visit. The meeting focused on key issues concerning the promotion of natural farming and the welfare and protection of stray cattle in Himachal Pradesh.
During his visit to the Ashram, the Chief Minister also interacted with people from Himachal Pradesh working there, enquired about their wellbeing and participated in Gau Seva activities.
The Chief Minister and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar held detailed discussions on encouraging farmers in Himachal Pradesh to adopt natural farming practices. Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the state government has been actively promoting chemical-free and sustainable agriculture across the state. He added that the government is providing Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops cultivated through natural farming methods, which is ensuring better returns for farmers while also benefiting consumers with healthier produce.
Highlighting the state government’s initiatives for stray cattle welfare, the Chief Minister said that under the Gopal Yojana, financial assistance for stray cattle housed in private cow shelters has been enhanced from Rs. 700 to Rs. 1,200 per cattle per month. He further stated that several new provisions aimed at rehabilitation and welfare of stray cattle have also been incorporated in the State Budget 2026-27.
The Chief Minister said that the state government has established several large cow shelters and cow sanctuaries in recent years to address the issue of stray cattle. He added that reputed voluntary organizations, NGOs and interested industrial groups would also be allowed to adopt government-run cow shelters and cow sanctuaries in order to strengthen cattle welfare initiatives in the state.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar appreciated the efforts being undertaken by the Himachal Pradesh Government towards promoting natural farming and ensuring better protection and welfare of cattle. He lauded the state’s initiatives aimed at sustainable agriculture and animal welfare.
