A central panel, set up in April to study the role of cow urine and dung in curing diseases and scientific validation of uniqueness of indigenous cows, is likely to have its first meeting next month when it would assign various projects to concerned ministries and institutions.
The panel, headed by science and technology minister Harsh Vardhan , will evaluate the role of ' Panchagavya ' - a concoction of cow urine mixed with cow dung, milk, curd and ghee - in four broad areas like medicine, products for agriculture applications, food and nutrition and utility products.
Besides eminent scientists like former CSIR director general R A Mashelkar on board, the panel also has members from RSS and VHP-linked organisations. The tenure of this panel will be for a period of three years.
"Though the panel - National Steering Committee (NSC) - has been constituted long ago, it could not meet so far due to one or the other important engagements of its members", said V K Vijay of the Centre for Rural Development and Technology (CRDT), IIT-Delhi . He is one of the members of this 19-member panel.
