While announcing the interim Budget 2019, finance minister Piyush Goyal said that the government will set up 'Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog' to look after the welfare of cows.

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"Yeh sarkar kabhi Gau mata ke samman mein peeche nahi hategi. (This government will never shy away from honoring our Mother Cow)," he said.

Lately, states have been coming up with plans for cow protection with the latest being Uttar Pradesh. Earlier this month, the state introduced a 'gau kalyan' cess, allowing the government to charge 0.5 percent additional levy on excise items, which will fund construction and maintenance of cow shelters.

However, the opposition slammed the state government's decision to levy a cess to fund temporary shelters for cattle, saying this would burden people.

Uttarakhand Law Commission earlier this month ecommended changes in the state's Protection of Cow Progeny Act to declare the animal mother of the nation.

Among the key highlights of FM Piyush Goyal's speech is the farm relief package, an “income support” scheme for small farmers. Under the scheme, farmers owning up to 2 hectares of land will get Rs 6,000 a year. The government contribution in pension scheme has been raised to 14 percent and a pension scheme for unorganised sector workers has been proposed.

(With inputs from PTI)

Check the key highlights of Goyal's Budget speech

First Published:Feb 1, 2019 12:05 PM IST