Rohtak cowsheds in crisis as donations decline

Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, December 9

The BJP government’s emphasis on the protection and rehabilitation of cows notwithstanding, the managements of local gaushalas are having a tough time taking care of cattle owing to a sharp decline in donations made by people in the wake of demonetisation.

The managers of cowsheds maintain that the number of residents, who donated for the care of cattle on a regular basis, had fallen sharply since November 8 when the government declared Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes invalid.

“We used to get donations to the tune of Rs 40,000-50,000 a day before demonetisation. The amount has fallen to Rs 10,000-15,000 now. We understand that people are facing an acute shortage of valid currency notes. But how can we take care of the cattle and other animals and birds without the funds required to buy fodder and medicines and pay salaries to our staff,” asked Jagdish Malik, president, Lawaris Peedit Pashu Sewa Sangh here.

Nearly 1,800 sick or injured stray animals are taken care of at the sheds managed by Malik. He said he had written a letter to the Prime Minister, with copies to the Union Finance Minister, the Chief Minister and other top government functionaries, to provide some immediate financial relief to them in the time of crisis. He added that he wrote that in absence of funds, they would be left with no alternative but to abandon the animals.

Malik said the letter was dispatched on November 11 but he was yet to get a reply. “Debt is accumulating and we have no money to pay salaries, buy medicines for the sick and injured animals or buy fuel for ambulances,” he added.