Blog by Nandita Verma

 Mistreatment Of The Sacred Cows 

Over 5 million stray cattle are estimated to exist in India based on statistics from the livestock census.

The problem of stray cow attacks on people and crops affects both urban and rural residents. Road accidents sometimes result from stray cattle, which are a nuisance to urban traffic. Because flies and insects carry the fast-moving traffic away from the cow's body and the cow does not need to wag its tail constantly, the cow chooses to sit in the middle of the road or on the side or divider. As a result, people find it simple, convenient, and comfortable to sit on the roadways. The individuals who live in the nearby villages own many of the stray cows that are lying on the highways. Cattle that are left behind because they are unproductive, such as cows, bulls, or calves, are referred to as stray cattle.

Most of India forbids the slaughter of cows because in Hinduism they are revered. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in 2014, however anti-slaughter legislation were not immediately put into force. Previously, farmers often brought their elderly cows to the butcher. In 18 states of India, including Uttar Pradesh, cow slaughter has been forbidden since 2014. Cow are no longer used as labour animals as a result of increased mechanisation in the agricultural sector, and this has increased the incidence of cattle abandonment. The cattle trade has also decreased due to the fear of being arrested, harassed, or lynched by cow vigilantes. When the cow stops producing milk, feeding and caring for the animal puts a financial strain on the farmer who cannot keep it. Farmers eventually abandon the animals they are unable to sell.

It is significant to note that owners release livestock when they are no longer valuable. These animals, sometimes known as stray cattle, are observed wandering the streets in search of food or sitting in the middle of the road since they have nowhere to go or to find shelter. As long as they are useful to their owners, cattle are kept in shelters. It is unlucky to abandon or ignore cows and bullocks, who are revered as gods. Because they support the agricultural system and hence help ensure food security, cattle are a valuable resource. There are more than 5 million stray cattle in India, according to the 20th Livestock Census, which was published in January 2020 by the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairy.

In various states across the nation, roughly 50% of the total cattle population falls into the non-breedable and/or unproductive group. These stray cattle are left to care for themselves and are not given any assistance. Despite the government's intention to form committees to examine the problem of stray cattle and harsh penalties for leaving livestock behind, it is frequently found to be impossible to track down the owners of left cattle. Farmers also struggle to support themselves, let alone the animals that suffer from natural disasters like floods, starvation, and drought. In such circumstances, they are left with little choice except to give up their undesirable animals. In the recent years, crossbreeding has drawn a lot of attention while indigenous peoples have gotten the short end of the stick. This contributes to the number of stray cattle, among other things.

Stray cattle are a problem that mostly affects urban areas since they can be dangerous to both the public and the transportation system. However, stray cattle in villages raid fields to feed themselves, harming both farmers' fields and crops. Their rearing is no longer economically feasible once they lose their eligibility. Consequently, they are either entirely abandoned or sold to slaughterhouses so that the meat can be sold and profited from. The issue of stray animals has frequently required government intervention.

Fig: Indian Gaushalas

Keeping stray cattle in gaushalas is insufficient and ineffective for addressing the problem of stray animals. The government must look beyond this and consider other options to relieve the suffering of stray cattle while also protecting the public from the dangers posed by these stray cattle. A national Stray Animal Board should be established to care for unclaimed animals. Simply erecting cowsheds will not solve the problem of stray animals. During the agricultural season, the government should pay farmers Rs. per bullock. People will not abandon their animals if animal husbandry is encouraged. Furthermore, if animals are tagged with their owners' information, they can be tracked down.

Initiatives by the Government and Other Organizations-

• On September 6, the Gujarat High Court ordered the state government to present a short and long-term plan to control the stray cattle problem. The High Court directed the government to give effect to the Gujarat Cattle Control (Keeping and Moving) in Urban Areas Bill, which was passed by the Assembly in March but has been put on hold since then, by urging it to establish a separate cell to monitor stray cattle. The Gujarat government introduced the Gujarat Cattle Control (Keeping and Moving) in Urban Areas Bill to control stray cattle in eight major cities and 162 towns, including Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Gandhinagar, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, and Junagadh.

• The Rashtriya Gokul Mission, another government initiative, has not met its objectives. Though a profitable initiative to support India's cowsheds and indigenous breeds, state governments have been slow to implement it. To address the issue of stray animals, the government should strictly implement the recommendations made in Maneka Gandhi's Gaushala Niyamali, while also considering other options.

• Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh, which has the country's largest livestock population, the government introduced the Mukhya Mantri Be-sahara Gau-Vansh Sahbhagita Yojana in 2019, under which the government would handover over one lakh bovines in government-run shelters to farmers or members of the general public who want to care for them for Rs. 30 per animal per day. Budget allocations have also been made for the state's gaushalas to be strengthened. The Haryana government uses funds from the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act to provide feed and fodder as well as shelter to helpless animals.