Jaipur, March 2 (IANS): At a "Gau Raksha Sammelan" organised here on Saturday, the Congress government announced that it will soon increase the grant for cow shelters to ensure cow conservation in the state.

Addressing the convention attended by representatives of several registered cow shelters, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said: "In Indian culture, cow has been given the status of mother. Hence, the state government is making all efforts to ensure that cow conservation is done properly in Rajasthan."

"Our government will soon decide on the ways and means to increase the grant for cow shelter, as we feel the present grant is not enough to feed the cows. Even in our last tenure, we set up the Directorate of Gauseva, which aimed to serve the cause of cow conservation," he said.

Paying his gratitude to participants, the Chief Minister said: "After conversation with all the prominent people present here, we will draft the best policy for cow conservation in the state."

The gathering, organised at the Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre days ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, is being viewed as a move to highlight the cow welfare schemes initiated by the Congress government.