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Caring for the cow

Home-less cows get tender, loving, care at this shelter

COMMITTED CARE Goshala is one of South India's largest shelter for cows

Have you ever watched a calf locate her mother from amongst a thousand cows? It could be the most touching sight that you will never forget, where mother and calf cry out to each other until united. Many such fascinating unique animal instincts can be witnessed at one of South India's largest shelter for cows - the Satyam Shivam Sundaram Gonivas. Commonly known as a Goshala this shelter, located in the serene Gaganpahad area of R.R.District was started in 2002 and is home to 2500 cows.

When a cow is not capable of producing milk or is too weak and old for agricultural purposes, they are normally sold for paltry sums to slaughter houses. These are rescued by environmentalists, people with religious sentiments or simple do-gooders. Most animals come injured or in poor health, yet all are welcomed almost like children into the Gonivas by its committed caretaker, Dharamchand Ranka fondly called Bapuji. Bapuji who has more than 15 years of experience in running Goshalas, follows strict standards of hygiene and lives by his philosophy that service to a speechless creature is the highest service to God. "When I start to worry about how I will feed my cows, donations magically come in the form of cash or kind - people from the Agarwal, Maheshwari, Jain and Brahmin communities flock here in large numbers especially on the auspicious Amavasya day. My only intention is to see that all the cows under my care are well fed and healthy and that every donation big or small is rightly utilised," says Bapuji.

The cost per day is estimated at a whopping Rs.40, 000, which includes fodder, fresh grass, electricity, vet services and medication. About 75 people are employed to work here round the clock. Since most of the cows here can just about sustain their young, they are not milked and only the dung is marketed as manure, which in turn helps preserve the soil and the purity of under ground water.

Every individual can do his bit for the environment if only he puts his mind to it. Don't wait until the cows go home, rather visit the cows at a place they can truly call home! For information contact 55608773 or 24478773.

PADMINI B. PATELL

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