LUCKNOW, May 13 -- The UP government plans to develop around 7,500 cow shelters into organic fertiliser production centres as part of an effort to link cow protection with rural employment, natural farming and women empowerment, a government spokesman said here on Tuesday. "Nearly 12.5 lakh cattle are currently housed in cow shelters across the state and preparations are underway to make these centres self-reliant through production of organic fertilisers and cow-based products using dung and urine," he said. The state government has earmarked Rs 2,100 crore for cow protection initiatives, including Rs 2,000 crore for the campaign and Rs 100 crore for setting up large cow protection centres. Construction of 155 such centres is underway across Uttar Pradesh. According to the government, women self-help groups and Farmer Producer Organisations will also be involved in running cow shelters and producing organic fertilisers, creating employment opportunities for rural women and youth. Under the Mukhyamantri Sahbhagita Yojana, over 1.8 lakh cattle have so far been handed over to around 1.25 lakh livestock rearers, with the government transferring Rs 50 per cattle per day directly into beneficiaries' bank accounts through DBT. UP Cow Service Commission chairman Shyam Bihari Gupta said state had taken extensive measures for cow protection, including action against illegal slaughterhouse .htc...