Context:

• A trend has been found under Rashtriya Gokul Mission, that only the Gir indigenous cow breed is being promoted under it.

Gir Cows

• India recorded 2.3 million purebred Gir cows in the 2019 livestock census, which is an almost 70 per cent jump from the 2013 estimate of 1.38 million. 
• The population of Sahiwal stood at 1.88 million in 2019 and its graded variety increased from 3.79 million to 4.07 million between 2013 and 2019.

About  Rashtriya Gokul Mission(RGM) 

• Objectives
  • Development and conservation of indigenous breeds; 
  • Breed improvement programme for indigenous breeds so as to improve the genetic makeup and increase the stock
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
• Implementation: Rashtriya Gokul Mission is implemented through the Livestock Development Boards.
• The scheme comprises of two components namely:
  • National Programme for Bovine Breeding (NPBB) 
  • National Mission on Bovine Productivity (NMBP).  
• The scheme is under the umbrella scheme Rashtriya Pashudhan Vikas Yojna.

Initiatives under RGM

• Awards for encouraging farmers/breeder societies to rear Indigenous breeds of Bovines: 
  • Gopal Ratna awards: For farmers maintaining the best herd of Indigenous Breed(s) and practicing best management practices. 
  • Kamdhenu awards: For Best managed Indigenous Herd by Institutions/Trusts/ NGOs/ Gaushalas or best managed Breeders’ Societies.
• Gokul Grams: These  are set up as Integrated Indigenous Cattle Development Centres with the aim of conservation and development of indigenous bovine breeds in a scientific and holistic manner.
• National Kamdhenu Breeding Centre: Under RGM, two National Kamdhenu Breeding Centres (NKBC) are being established as Centres of Excellence to develop and conserve Indigenous Breeds in a holistic and scientific manner. 
• Pashu Sanjivni: An Animal Wellness Programme encompassing provision of Animal Health cards (‘Nakul Swasthya Patra’) along with UID identification and uploading data on National Database;
• Advanced Reproductive Technology: Including Assisted Reproductive Technique- In-vitro Fertilization (IVF)/ Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer (MOET) and sex sorted semen technique to improve availability of disease free female bovines. 

News Source: Down to Earth