No vigilantism, just pure service to the cow

There is no denying that in the last two years, the cow has become sanctimonious more than ever before, perhaps for many, even holier than thou. That may not be seen as much of a problem. The problem lies elsewhere.

The sudden emergence of self-styled vigilante groups, ready to go to far extremes of even lynching in the name of cow protection, has had a tarnishing impact on the social fabric that binds all. The bovine narrative is making headlines all over amid accusations of misplaced priorities. But it’s time to look inwards as well.

Protection of cows arguably remains limited to mere vigilantism and that too of a particular characteristic that has made it apocryphal. Groups taking care of cows that have been abandoned or subjected to brutality are far less and lesser known. Cows have been found with burn marks on the body. There are instances of acid attacks on cows to keep them away from fields.

Hundreds of cows are being abandoned every day on the streets by dairy farmers and agriculturalists in Punjab and Haryana with impunity. They are abandoned for they cannot produce milk or breed anymore. They are rendered useless and kicked away, mercilessly at times.

That’s a norm increasingly showing signs of brutality that perhaps is out of the preview of many of these self-styled cow vigilante groups which propagate only a particular form of cow protection. But there are some selflessly dedicated to serving the cow--the ones that have been injured, subjected to brutality and ailing.

Just about 40 km from industrial town Ludhiana in Punjab is a space that provides the answers, at least to some extent, to the escalating problem of bovine brutality. This space run as the lone non-government exclusive cow hospital is getting cattle that have suffered the pain of acid thrown on them.

Cows being treated here have been inflicted with multiple stab wounds. Many of these have been hit by speeding cars or trucks and left to bleed on the roadside, at times for a couple of days until help is called. People managing this rare facility say they have sheltered cows that were brought here with deep burns. The brutality has nothing to do with any particular community of beef eaters or vegetarians.

This is what work at the facility appears like on any given day. In one corner of the space, an injured cow squirms in excruciating pain. The bovine’s facial expressions don’t convey much, just like many other animals. But the intensity of the pain is no less. This manifestation of pain by loud low catches the attention of the attendants who are quick to rush in to help.

There are deep wounds as a result of acid thrown on a cow and may take time to heal. Veterinarians rush to relieve the pain. Good thing is they are in safe hands at the Baba Gau Hira Hospital which treats injured cows, only cows, at Kaunke Kalan village in Ludhiana district.

Kulwinder Singh, who owns the facility, said they have brought stray cows applied with pepper in their eyes and glands. Talking to DH, the 38-year old Good Samaritan said the facility has about 120 cows at any given time and rescues nearly 50 injured, ailing and injured cows every month. This facility is not a cattle pound but a place where wounded cows, including the ones subjected to brutality, are treated. “The plan is to expand the facility for all kinds of wounded animals, including horses and birds,” he said.

Singh finds it difficult to explain why people would act brutally against cows. But he comes out with one explanation. Cows are abandoned on the street after they stop producing milk. Farmers drive them away and stray bovine often venture into fields and cropping area. Brutal forms come into force to ensure cows don’t enter fields.

Tighter regulation on sale of livestock too may have triggered brutality on cows, he felt. Singh is upset with the state of affairs. He said often ailing cows die at the shelter and they find iron pieces plastic and garbage in the stomach of the carcass.

Singh, who got into this service to help injured cows by starting this facility in 2011, said he has no assistance from the government and that much of the expenses, about Rs 2.5 to 3 lakh every month, are sponsored by his brother and family living in the US. The facility also manages some donations. They have an ambulance fitted with hydraulic ramp which makes it convenient to rescue cows. “I cannot see an injured animal in pain. That made me to get into this work full time,” he said.

Punjab has a lot of stray cattle. Chairman of the Punjab State Gau Sewa Commission Keemti Bhagat said the state has 1.10 lakh stray cattle. The problem will be solved within four months. Bhagat said the government is constructing more gaushalas in all districts. An estimated 290 stray bovine died last year. Bhagat said he has taken up the issue with Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and others. A sum of Rs 2 crore is collected as gau sewa cess in Punjab.