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Gaining perspective on stray cattle

I have to swerve my car to find a narrow opening through a herd of stray animals, who refuse to budge.

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Rana Preet Gill 

I  have to swerve my car to find a narrow opening through a herd of stray animals, who refuse to budge. Constant honking is of no avail because it only frightens them and addles their muddled senses. Most of these animals have been driven out of their homes into territories unknown, unchartered. 

Cattle in our country are reared for milching and the moment they turn unproductive, no one wants them. They are driven out of their homes. Isn’t this like driving your parents out after they retire and stop earning? 

I was asked to address a group of British farmers recently by someone who owns a farm stay in our city. I introduced myself as a local veterinarian and told the group about various species of cows and buffaloes found in the area. I emphasised that my primary duty was to vaccinate animals of my area. An inquisitive farmer asked me that while coming to the city, he saw cows roaming on roads. He wanted to know if those animals are vaccinated. I thought for a while and responded: “We did not vaccinate stray animals because it was difficult to get hold of them.” He further prodded: “To whom do these animals belong?” I pondered over this. 

These animals belong to no one and nowhere. Once driven out of their homes, they do not belong to people who owned them, they do not belong to the state though they mane the highways by barricading them at their whims, they do not belong to the country as well. But they start existing as soon as you tinker with their faceless, nameless identity. They exist to flay the religious tempers, to mob, to lynch and to get even with people. Otherwise, they do not have a measured existence. 

I attended a meeting of some progressive citizens being addressed by a Deputy Commissioner. An elderly gentleman complained that the district administration needs to do something about the menace of stray animals. The DC did some quick calculations and narrated a figure of lakhs of rupees that would be spent on procuring fodder if these animals are stacked in one place. He even found a way out of this cumbersome narrative of figures. The panchayats of neighboring villages were to be made accountable for getting fodder for these animals. Later, he posed a tricky question. If all stray animals are taken care of, what was the probability that more animals will not be kicked out of their homes. The ambitious project was never initiated. 

Why those who are bound to take care of their animals not taken into account? Marginal farmers should be given assistance and made accountable for the animals they own. The Information network of animal productivity and health project developed by the National Dairy Development Board, wherein every animal will be given an Aadhar number, might help reduce this scourge of homeless animals being left to die. If head counts of all animals are taken, each animal will have an identity, a place of pride in every home

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