The misuse of oxytocin hormonal injections on milch cows raises their vulnerability to bovine leukosis virus and leukemia while those consuming milk from such cows also end up with leukemia.
There has been a steep rise in incidence of tuberculosis in India since 1983 — the year in which oxytocin was introduced in the country while the milch period of cows has dropped from 12 years in the past to two years at present.
The oxytocin smuggled from China and then distributed in bottles called “Jhatpat” in the villages needs to be stopped. Apart from the bovine issues, there is also need for understanding the important predatory role played by the stray dogs and cats who keep a check on the rat population thereby mitigating the probability of endemics like the plague spread from rats, said Union Minister for Women and Child Development and Chairperson of the People For Animals (PFA) Maneka Gandhi at the inauguration of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) centre in Kedarpuram area of Dehradun for conducting stray dog sterilisation.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister termed the occasion historic stating that the ABC centre in Dehradun is the first and best of its kind in the country yet. Calling it the nation’s first scientifically constructed centre with adequate space and other facilities, she said that effective execution of the ABC programme will help alleviate the stray dog issue in a couple of years. Stressing on the importance of stray dogs and cats, Gandhi said, “In the past when the municipal commissioner of Surat ‘cleaned up’ the town by removing the stray dogs and cats, the boom in rat population then led to the plague epidemic which not only caused human deaths but also ended up causing losses amounting to about Rs 5,000 crore.”
Referring to incidence of children dying in cases involving stray dogs, the minister pointed out that this problem was a result of the mushrooming of butcher shops and outlets.
“There are small butcher shops all around and the butchers throw the intestines and other body parts in the open where they are eaten by stray dogs. Often, when children sent by their wards to purchase meat such incidents are liable to happen when the habituated stray dogs not considering the child a threat attempt to snatch the purchased meat from the children at times causing their death in the attempt. All legal butcher shops should have boundary walls and should be air-conditioned to maintain hygiene and keep the flies away.”
She also extolled the people of Uttarakhand for ending ritual animal slaughter, stating that neighbouring Himachal Pradesh had also followed Uttarakhand’s lead with an impact also being exerted across the nation on the issue of animal sacrifice.
Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli said that the stray dog population of Dehradun must be about 22,000 and considering various factors, the intended effect of the ABC programme should be achieved in six to seven years.
Referring to the MCD’s Kanji house for stray cattle, the Mayor said that it was akin to a prison for stray cattle, not a long term solution.
“We have identified a spot nearby where we plan to build a big Gau Sadan on an area covering 15-20 bigha to shelter bovines. We estimate that this will cost about Rs 1 crore for which we will also need assistance from the State authorities.”
State animal husbandry and urban development minister PS Panwar appreciated the establishment of the ABC centre and asked Chamoli to send the budget estimate for construction of Gau Sadan which will be promptly addressed.
Earlier, municipal commissioner NS Bhadauriya informed that in the first phase of ABC programme, such centres are being constructed in Mussoorie and Nainital too, with more such centres slated to be constructed in the subsequent two stages. “This centre is based on contract involving state animal husbandry and urban development departments along with the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun. Veterinarians from the Humane Society International will conduct the sterilization operations here.
In addition to 72 kennels, two dog catching vans and dog catching teams have also been facilitated. We also plan to open a training centre on the first floor here to impart training in dog sterilization.
The Government of Uttarakhand provided Rs 1.47 crore and MCD released Rs 40 lakh for construction of this centre. A dog crèche centre is also planned to generate income while the facilitation of an animal helpline is also under process,” he said.