Himachal CM discusses natural farming, stray cattle welfare with Sri Ravi Sankar

Himachal Pradesh's Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu met Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to discuss promoting natural farming and protecting stray cattle in the state.

Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu met Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, spiritual Guru and founder of the Art of Living Foundation in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

They discussed promoting natural farming and ensuring the protection and welfare of stray cattle in Himachal Pradesh.

During a visit to the Ashram, the chief minister sought Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's blessings, interacted with people from Himachal Pradesh working there, enquired about their wellbeing and participated in Gau Seva, according to a statement issued here.

Sukhu said the state government is encouraging farmers across the state to adopt natural farming practices. He said the government is providing Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops grown through natural farming, which benefits both farmers and consumers by ensuring better returns and promoting chemical-free produce.

He said under the Gopal Yojana, the state government hiked financial aid for stray cattle housed in private cow shelters from Rs 700 to Rs 1,200 per cattle per month.

He said several new measures for the rehabilitation and welfare of stray cattle have also been included in the State Budget 2026-27.

The chief minister said the state government has established several large cow shelters and cow sanctuaries in recent years.

He said reputed voluntary organisations, NGOs, and industrial groups will also be allowed to adopt government-run cow shelters and cow sanctuaries, further strengthening cattle welfare initiatives.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar appreciated the Himachal Pradesh Government's efforts towards promoting natural farming and improving the protection and welfare of cattle in the state, the statement said.