DeshGujarat

Ahmedabad, 14 September 2012

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has been doing exemplary activities since many years in service of cows of villages surrounding its world famous refinery. RIL recently increased the amount of grants for cow fodder in tune with the wishes of the some of the villagers. Not only that, the company now considers creating facilities like mobile veterinary van and a veterinary dispensary.

Mr. Parimal Nathwani, group president (corporate affairs) of RIL, shared the details and informed that the company substantially increased the budget for fodder assistance from 2012-13. The amount of Rs. 69.22 lakh is earmarked for cow fodder for cows of sixteen villages from this year; which was Rs. 48 lakhs until now; he said and added that the villagers and village heads were overwhelmed with the company’s decision.

RIL provides cow fodder to 2410 cows of sixteen villages surrounding its refinery. The villages viz. Moti Khavdi, Padana, Meghpar, Sikka, Gagva, Nani Khavdi, Pipali, Kanalus, Dera Chikari, Navania, Shapar, Arablus, Meghnu Gam, Nava Gam, Kana Chikari and Setalus receive regular fodder assistance on monthly basis from the company, Mr. Nathwani said.

Mr. Nathwani recalled the founder Chairman of Reliance Dhirubhai Ambani who inspired in 1998 to begin these activities. During construction of Jamnagar refinery, the ‘Service to Cow’ campaign began from six villages viz. Moti Khavdi, Nani Khavdi, Meghpar, Padana, Gagva and Sikka to start with; he said and added that later on other villages were covered with the expansion of Jamnagar Complex.

Mr. Nathwani also said that RIL constructed cow-sheds in 1995-96 at Moti Khavdi and Sikka; in 1996-97 at Nani Khavdi, Padana and Meghpar; and in 2007-08 in Kanalus and Dera Chikari. The Nani Khavdi Cow-shed was completely renovated in 2007-08. The cow sheds constructed in the villages by RIL at an aggregate cost of Rs. 91.30 lakh are spacious, airy and equipped with fodder-storage, drinking-water pit, a bull-house as well as a compound wall. He said one of the names of Lord Krishna is Gopal meaning the one who rears cows. Thus, the RIL constructed cow-sheds have main gates decorated with murals of Lord Krishna playing flute and surrounded by grazing cows; he added.

Now RIL has resolved to do something innovative for village cows. The Company mulls something which could be useful in case these cattle fall sick. Mr. Nathwani informed that shortly a veterinary dispensary in any of these villages would be set up and a mobile veterinary van would be put to service. The company is planning on these lines and expects it to be operational shortly, if everything goes off well; he said.

The villagers are enthused about RIL’s new initiative, feel happy about themselves and proud about company; which apart from services to cows carry out number of social services in the villages.