In Haryana, cattle turn out to be money-spinners

If you thought the rural gentry buys and sells bovine only in cattle markets transitively laid in open spaces alongside national highways crisscrossing small towns, it's time to get an update. Now scroll through even the OLX to find cows. For potential buyers, there isn’t any dearth of cows on the list.

Almost every entry takes you to an address in rural Haryana. The price tag goes up to lakhs of rupees. But then it depends on various factors: the cows milk yield, its pedigree, etc.

Ancient scriptures, especially in Hindu mythology, bear testimony to the cow being sacred, to say the least. In Jatland Haryana, cows are turning out to be holier than thou, at least that's what seems to be happening given the rare penchant for cows that the incumbent saffron party in Haryana is manifesting.

The change of guard in Haryana last year was the beginning of all that has till date been done in the name of the cow. Even before the saffron party took charge, former Congress Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who had cows at his palatial official residence in Chandigarh, would make sure he started his day by serving fresh fodder with his hands to his cows at home.  

Rajasthan may have caught the attention after it became India's first state to get a dedicated minister in-charge of cow affairs in January this year, but Haryana wins hands down when it comes to the “holy cow”.

For believers of faith, the love for cows being manifested in Haryana has drawn appreciation for the incumbent regime-- be it the law on ban of cow slaughter, ban on beef sale, identification micro chips for cows, safeguarding of cows from mosquitoes or even a proposed beauty pageant for cows.

Haryana has 2.5 per cent of the bovine population, but the state accounts for 5 per cent of the milk produced in India. Increasing milk production is inherent in Haryana's plan to bestow its love on the cow. Haryana's current availability of milk is 800 grams per person per day which is less than states like Punjab and Gujarat. The state government had even inked an agreement with the Brazilian government to improve milk production, quality of cattle feed and the environment for the bovine.The message, it appears, seems to have had a ripple effect, even with the state police.

In at least four districts of Haryana-- Sonepat, Rohtak, Panipat and Jhajjar falling under the Rohtak range--directions have been reportedly been issued to appoint Deputy SP level officers as the nodal officers for protection of stray cows in their respective areas. They have been told keep a watch on farmers who leave cows on the roads after they fail to produce milk. This with an aim to take action against them.

Accidents involving cattle on road too will be minimised this way. Following the intervention of the police, many cattle pounds in the four districts adopted over two thousand stray cows from different cities and towns. The Inspector General of the zone has even asked the health authorities in four districts to ensure sprays in the cattle pounds to “safeguard cows from mosquitoes”.

A beauty pageant of sorts for cows is on the cards in Haryana, state agriculture minister OP Dhankar has said. It all started with an uncanny show of exotic Murrah buffaloes sashaying down the ramp last year. Owners from all over the state will now showcase the best of cows and calves and win cash prizes. The possibility of importing high quality Sahiwal breed of cow from Pakistan is also being contemplated.

The ruling Badal family in neighbouring Punjab already has Sahiwal  cows at their farm which were reportedly gifted by Pakistan Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif. The Badals brought the cattle from Pakistan by spending over Rs 16 lakh, sources said.

The state intends to go about in a systematic scientific manner, which is why ear tags or microchip that will store information about the cow to be tracked would be attached to high yielding cows in Haryana. It is being dubbed as an Aadhaar card of sort for cows.

The target is to identify 1,000 top quality cows during the current fiscal year and fasten ear tags on them. Officials said there would be radio frequency identification device tags that will contain information about cows’ date of birth, breed, lactation cycle, complexion, body structure, calving details, the amount of milk etc. A Rs 100 crore outlay has been provided for this.

In the previous assembly session, the BJP government under RSS ideologue and CM Manohar Lal Khattar passed a bill to ban cow slaughter. Sale of beef and beef products too has been banned. Cow slaughter in Haryana now attracts a rigorous imprisonment up to 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh. The bill even states that any person who attempts to export cows for slaughter would be imprisoned for not less than three years and up to seven  years and fine. A permit is now required to export cows, but no permit would be issued for export of cows to states where cow slaughter is not banned by law.