There are hardly any Dharma Gaushalas in Kerala. Most of the  aged or ailing cows are abandoned or sold. The project envisages to stop this cruelty towards animals. To start with, 2.5 acre suitable land is earmarked in Kannur district, Kerala exclusively for establishing a Dharma Gaushala. Support is sought from people and companies for setting up the Gaushala and also for maintaining it further. Initial phase can be completed in 3 years. Project will be managed by Gaumithra Dept. of Sree Raghavapuram Sabha Yogam.

In the past Cows were always protected

Cow is considered as the most revered animal in our Sanathan Vedic culture. Cow is our second mother as we all use her milk. From milk we make curd, ghee, butter-milk and many more by-products. In addition to milk, they give us dung and urine. Crores of people in our country live with small scale dairy farming as their livelihood. From time immemorial, cows were the symbol of virtue and prosperity.

Why aged cows are abandoned?

• In contrary to the past, currently people are considering protecting aged cows as a liability.
• An ordinary  dairy  farmer gets  only  a  limited  income  from  cattle  rearing.  The income during milking period is not sufficient to look after the cows when they become aged. It costs at least Rs. 200/- a day (Rs 75,000/- a year) to look after an aged cow. For an ordinary dairy farmer, it’s difficult to find this amount just by selling cow-dung.
• Due to the dense population, extensive pastures are rare in Kerala. Joint family system has disappeared. Per-head land holding of each nuclear family has come down.  Hence only a maximum of 1-2 cows can be looked after by a family.
• In the above background, dairy farmers think it as inconvenient to keep aged cows.
• The case of diseased, injured or deformed cows is not different.
• Due to mechanization, bulls are not used in agriculture activities now-a-days.
• In the past, every family used to look after cows like a family member. So, they would take care of it till their last breath. But due to the changed culture and perspective in Kerala, selling old cows is not considered as a sin.
• Young people are leaving the agro-dairy sector as they find it as not remunerative enough. This change in lifestyle will create far-reaching  effect in the rural way of life and vocations.  It will have a significant impact on the soil, environment, climate, country’s  economy, human relations, happiness, health and longevity.

Relevance

• As a practical solution to these problems, Sree Raghavapuram Sabhayogam intends to set up a few Dharma Gaushalas in Kerala.  An ordinary dairy farmer can handover old cows to such Dharma Gaushalas so that:
  • He is freed from the financial responsibility of looking after old cows.
  • The workload of caring for a unproductive cow is eliminated. Instead, he can look after milking cows.
  • He has no mental agony on the sin of abandoning the cow.

• With this, it is likely that the dairy farming sector will become rewarding, and the younger generation will select it as their vocation.
• Thus, the establishment of Dharma Gaushalas  becomes a great support to the ordinary dairy farmer.
• A Dharma Gaushala can do the marketing and selling of cow-dung & urine of the inmate old cows in centralized professional way. This way Gaushalas can earn a portion of the daily expenses.
• A Dharma Gaushala can provide employment to a few families – directly and indirectly.
• Gaushalas provide an opportunity for philanthropists to participate in animal husbandry. Through this they are able to  ensure the well-being and welfare of the rural people. They contribute to the sustainable development of rural India.
• A major transformation will be possible as more NGOs adopt this model. People will slowly realise that abandoning cows is not desirable in a civilized society.

Requirements (For model project implementation – 50 old cows)

• A suitable place with ample water availability and approach road facility
• Simple shelters for cows.
• Shelter, latrine and other basic amenities for the farm keepers.
• Silage farming for cattle feed
• Electricity connection, Motor pump, water connection
• A vehicle for transport of cows, cow-feed and cow-dung
• Electric burner for funeral of the cows
• Waste disposal arrangements, pollution control arrangements etc
• A veterinary clinic with service of an expert doctor. Also tie up with veterinary hospitals.
• Permission from Local authorities

Implementation Schedule

This is a long-term project. Establishment and running in full stream will take 3 years.

Budget

Management

• There is a hierarchical professional voluntary management system already in place.

• In SRSY, Gaumithra is the Department for Welfare of Indigenous Cows and other animals. Department has a central committee consisting of Experienced dairy farmers, Management experts and Social workers. Representatives from central committee along with capable local members will manage the Dharma Gaushala. Local committee will report to Gaumithra central committee which in turn reports to SRSY Governing Council.
• SRSY centralized office will co-ordinate  Documentation, Accounting , PR and IT responsibilities.
• Internal and External auditing will be carried out as per SRSY bylaw and strictly following Government guidelines.
• Project will be monitored by an advisory council of Patrons.

Milestones till Date

Suitable place with ample water availability and approach road facility is earmarked

• Area – 2.5 Acre.
• River-side plot, water available throughout the year.
• Just 100 meters from Main road. Widening of  the narrow approach road is required. Discussed with concerned parties and they are willing.
• Suitable for silage farming

How to Support?

Interest-free loans of 2 lakh each are accepted from kind-hearted people with the assurance of promissory note.

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