Sri Vijaya Puram, April 29: The ‘Gau Samman Ahvaan Abhiyan’, a nationwide campaign advocating a complete ban on cow slaughter and seeking to accord the cow the status of ‘Rashtramata’ (Mother of the Nation), has witnessed significant participation in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with 26,000 people extending their support through a signature drive.
Organised by local supporters of cow protection across the islands, the campaign saw enthusiastic public participation spanning all seven major tehsils—Sri Vijaya Puram, Ferrargunj, Hut Bay, Rangat, Mayabunder, Campbell Bay, and Diglipur. As part of the initiative, memorandums addressed to the President of India, the Prime Minister, and the Lieutenant Governor were submitted through administrative officials in each tehsil.
The representations, routed via Tehsildars, Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) and Assistant Commissioners (ACs), included signatures of 26,000 residents backing the demands.
Campaign divisional head Anil Goyal stated that efforts towards the protection and promotion of cows would continue in the future. He added that the primary objective of the campaign is to raise awareness about the cultural and social significance of cows and to secure constitutional recognition for them as ‘Rashtramata’.
Campaign member Anoop Gopinathan highlighted the existing provisions under ‘The Andaman and Nicobar Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Regulation, 1967’ and called for amendments to enforce a complete ban on cow slaughter in the islands. He said the overwhelming support of 26,000 citizens reflects a unified demand across the archipelago for stricter laws and recognition of the cow as ‘Rashtramata’.
The campaign organisers reiterated that the large-scale public endorsement demonstrates growing sentiment in favour of cow protection measures in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.