Kindness and compassion towards all living things is a mark of a civilised society. Conversely, cruelty, whether it is directed against human beings or against animals, is not the exclusive province of any one culture or community of people. These were the popular words of César Chávez, an American crusader for the environment and consumer rights. The state of national Capital’s Government-funded gaushalas (cow shelters) scream of apathy the poor animals go through even when various political parties vouch to protect the holy animal. The Pioneer visited a few such gaushalas to find out a sordid state of affairs.
According to the data collected by the municipal corporations, South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) sent 3,398 cattle to shelters in 2015-16 and 3,685 died during the same period. In 2014-15, 2,974 cattle were sent and 2,143 died. The East Delhi Municipal Corporation shared similar figures. Between August and October 2015, 190 cattle were sent to shelters. Of these, 120 died. According to 2011 data, the three corporations had seized around 49,000 cattle out of which 46,000 died.
There are total five Government-run gaushalas that have a capacity to accommodate nearly 24,000 cows. Out of the total, these shelters have occupancy of nearly 17,000 cows at present. What is more startling is that, according to the data, nearly 20 cows die every day in these shelters.
Managers of these cow shelters said majority of cows are either already ill or injured. As per the trend, they are brought to the shelters once they become infertile and stop producing milk. “Most of the cows that come here are those who stop producing milk. Usually what people do is that they abandon cows once they stop producing milk,” said one of the managers of cow shelters. Moreover, MCD helpline have also come up to report abandoned cattle, 1266 and 155303.
According to the owners of one of the State-run cow shelters, 80 per cent of the animals are bulls or male calves. The remaining 20 per cent are old cows that are abandoned by dairy owners. Out of the total number of cows, around 1-2 per cent gives milk.
Other than this, the Government-run cow shelters cry for fund crunch. Ramesh, one of the owners of the cow shelters said funds coming from the Delhi Government have nearly dried up. “The average daily expense on a cow is nearly Rs 100. Our cow shelter has not received financial assistance from State Government since last two years. Even the MCD has not given us any money. Therefore, you can say that we are functioning independently, there is no help from the Government,” said Naresh, a cow shelter owner.
The Delhi High Court, in 2002, had ordered the shifting of stray cattle which were abandoned by hundreds of illegal dairies operating from urban areas. Acting on the order, the captured animals were released on the border areas of the city. Moreover, the cattle was auctioned and returned to owners with fines and a condition the nuisance would not return to city. The municipal corporations also began sending the captured cattle to gausadans. “Each year MCD captures thousands of cattle and send them to shelters,” said a veterinary officer of North Delhi Municipal Corporation.
According to Section 11 (1) (a) to (o) of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, the law strictly provides that it is punishable with imprisonment and fine if any animal is treated with cruelty or if given poisonous food, there are serious consequences attached to it.
The animal law also states that it is illegal to kill homeless animals and citizens may only report what they perceive as a nuisance to the municipal authorities. The municipality is required to maintain an animal pound for animals. According to Sections 428 and 429 of the Indian Penal Code, it is illegal to maim or cause injury to any animal. Under the Delhi Agricultural Cattle Preservation Act, 1994, the then BJP Government had allotted land to NGOs on nominal charges to set up shelters on the outskirts of the city to care for cows of all ages, calves, bulls and bullocks.
Ruchi Kale, volunteer from Dhyan Foundation, an NGO which works for cow rights, said, “Today, cows are suffering because they are not taken care off. People leave them open on road to eat garbage, polythene and other toxic substance. And that’s the true reason that cows are dying,” adding, “Our NGO rescue cows and rehabilitate them to our own NGO based at Chhattarpur. We also provide help private cow shelters if they require.”
According to Kale, (cow) animal protection can only be achieved if Animal Act is implemented. “Since animal is State subject, the city Government should be active in taking steps for the protection and rescuing animals.”