On the auspicious occasion of Govardhan Pooja, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav turned a cultural celebration into a moment of direct economic action — disbursing over ₹68 crore to cattle keepers and cow shelters across the state at a single state-level ceremony in Bhopal on Monday, 9 November 2026.

₹2.95 Crore to 466 Award-Winners Under Gopal-Krishna Gram Puraskar Yojana

At the state-level Gau-Pujan evam Pashupalak Samman Samaroh (Cow Worship and Livestock Keeper Felicitation Ceremony) held at Ravindra Bhavan, Bhopal, CM Dr. Yadav transferred ₹2.95 crore in prize money to 466 winning livestock keepers selected from Vrindavan Grams (designated model villages) under the Gopal-Krishna Gram Puraskar Yojana 2026-27. The transfer was executed via a single click — a paperless direct benefit transfer that reached beneficiaries instantly.

The Gopal-Krishna Gram Puraskar Yojana is a Madhya Pradesh state scheme that recognises villages and individual pashupalaks (livestock rearers) for excellence in cow protection and animal husbandry. By linking prize disbursements to cultural events like Govardhan Pooja, the state government frames rural welfare as an extension of tradition — a recurring pattern in MP's animal husbandry outreach.

₹65.66 Crore Released for 5.51 Lakh Stray Cattle Across 3,000+ Gaushalas

The larger disbursement of the day: ₹65.66 crore in grant money released for the upkeep of 5.51 lakh destitute cattle sheltered across more than 3,000 registered gaushalas in the state. These registered cow shelters form the backbone of Madhya Pradesh's stray cattle management infrastructure, a network that has been built and expanded under successive state governments since at least the early 2010s through the Animal Husbandry Department.

Stray cattle management is a persistent governance challenge in many Indian states — animals that enter agricultural fields cause crop damage and trigger rural conflict. By channelling public funds directly to shelter operators, the state attempts to both protect the cattle and reduce that friction.

Felicitations and an Exhibition at Ravindra Bhavan

CM Dr. Yadav personally honoured outstanding gau-sevaks (cow-service workers) and livestock keepers at the ceremony. Prior to the main event, he visited a departmental exhibition organised by the Animal Husbandry Department, reviewing innovations and practices in cattle care on display.

With more than ₹68 crore moved in a single afternoon and nearly half a million animals covered, Madhya Pradesh has once again demonstrated how a religious calendar date can serve as the delivery mechanism for a substantial welfare transfer — and the next phase of the Gopal-Krishna Yojana, along with its budget allocation, will reveal whether that momentum holds.