The Animal Husbandry Department of Rajasthan has taken a stern stance against irregularities found in the distribution of government grants to cow shelters (gaushalas). In a significant move, the department has initiated the recovery of a total of 3,62,75,920 rupees from two of Jaipur's most prominent gaushalas: Shri Pinjrapol Gaushala in Sanganer and the Cow Rehabilitation Center in Hingonia. This action follows a detailed audit conducted by the Accountant General (Audit-II), Rajasthan, Jaipur, which unearthed several discrepancies in the grant payment process, while the investigation revealed that the fraud involved the use of fake tags, duplicate tags, and even claims made in the name of deceased cattle.
Audit Findings and Irregularities
The audit team from the Accountant General's office meticulously examined the government grants provided to these shelters. The primary focus of the investigation was to verify the number of cattle for which financial assistance was claimed against the actual number of cattle present in the shelters. The findings were startling. It was discovered that there was a significant difference between the reported figures and the ground reality. In several instances, tags were found to have been reused, and payments were brazenly claimed based on the tags of cattle that had already died. On top of that, the investigation highlighted that many cattle tags weren't registered on the Bharat Pashudhan App, yet they were included in the calculations for the grant, while consequently, the Animal Husbandry Department has now commenced the process of reclaiming the excess payments made to these institutions.
Hingonia Gaushala: Excess Payment of 1.41 Crore
At the Hingonia Cow Rehabilitation Center in Jaipur, irregularities were found in the grant payments for the financial years 2022-23 and 2023-24. According to the audit, the shelter should have received a grant of 31,38,00,000 rupees for these two years. However, a total of 32,79,00,000 rupees was disbursed. This resulted in an excess payment of approximately 1,41,20,100 rupees. The department has now issued instructions to recover this entire amount from the gaushala management. The discrepancy arose primarily due to the verification of cattle numbers. The audit found that the number of cattle mentioned in the application didn't match the records maintained at the shelter. Although the grant was provided for a period of 120 to 150 days, it was discovered that some cattle weren't alive during the entire period, yet payments were claimed for them. This has also raised serious questions about the District Level Committee's failure to properly verify the actual cattle count.
Pinjrapol Gaushala: Duplicate Tags and Dead Cattle Claims
The Shri Pinjrapol Gaushala in Sanganer also came under scrutiny for irregularities occurring between the financial years 2021-22 and 2024-25. The investigation revealed that tags for 54 large cows and 39 small cows, totaling 93 cattle, were duplicated. More shockingly, tags belonging to 1307 deceased cattle were included in the grant calculations, meaning financial aid was taken in the name of animals that were no longer alive. On top of that, 4858 tags were found to be unregistered on the Bharat Pashudhan App. Despite this lack of registration, these tags were used as a basis for claiming grants. The total excess payment identified at Pinjrapol Gaushala amounts to 2,21,55,820 rupees, which the department is now preparing to recover in full.
Statewide Recovery and Future Consequences
The Joint Director's office of the Animal Husbandry Department has issued formal notices to both Jaipur-based shelters. The total recovery amount of 3,62,75,920 rupees must be deposited into the state treasury within three months. The department has offered the option of paying in two or three installments, provided the management submits a consent letter within seven days. Failure to comply could lead to the suspension of administrative approvals for future grants in the first phase of the 2026-27 financial year. This issue extends beyond Jaipur, as orders have been issued to recover a total of 57,36,00,000 rupees from 38 gaushalas across the state. Other major institutions under investigation include Shri Braj Kamad Surbhi Van Shodh Sansthan in Deeg, facing a recovery of 16,36,00,000 rupees, and Shri Gopal Govardhan Gaushala in Pathmeda, Jalore, with a recovery of 10,95,00,000 rupees. The audit revealed that some shelters inflated their cattle numbers by nearly 1,31,000 to claim higher grants, which are distributed at a rate of 40 rupees per day for large cattle and 20 rupees per day for small cattle.