The death of nearly 400 cows in a period of three weeks in the country’s first cow sanctuary in the BJP-ruled state of Madhya Pradesh has become a major issue, with people resorting to protests and bandhs against the state government that manages the sanctuary.
During the last 20 days, around four to five cows have been dying every day. Babulal Yadav, district Congress president, said, “It is shameful that so many cows died due to poor-quality fodder supplied by the government.”
According to reports, a number of cows are dying every day because the fodder is mixed with adulterated soybean.
Dr V.S. Kosarwal, assistant director in-charge of Kamdhenu Cow Sanctuary, said, “We are keeping a constant watch and have ordered for post-mortem and blood samples of the cows that died.”
Reacting to the reports of death of cows, chairman of Madhya Pradesh Gau Samvardhan Board (Cow Development Board) Swami Akhileshwarnand told media, “Out of 6,000 cows, per day deaths of 40-50 cows are natural. We get stray cows that feed on the street and eat polythene bags. They are not dying because of poor fodder, still we have ordered an inquiry.”
The district bar association of Agar-Malwa has demanded an inquiry into the sudden deaths of cow. The association after apprising the local administration had even presented a memorandum to Lord Hanuman Temple in the city to make the government realise how poorly the sanctuary is being managed.
Yadav said, “We will constantly protest against the people who are responsible for the death of cows; we have called a bandh in the town and will take the issue at state level.” The NSUI and Shwetambar Murtipujak Jain Sangh too presented a memorandum to district collector Ajay Gupta.
The country’s first cow sanctuary was set up by the Madhya Pradesh government in September last year in the name of Kamdhenu Gau Abhyaranya at Salaria village, some 50km from the district headquarters of Agar-Malwa. The sanctuary is spread over 472 hectares. It is home to over 6,000 stray cows, which are left by their owners once they are no longer useful economically. It was built at a cost of Rs 32 crore.
The sanctuary is jointly being managed by the veterinary department and Madhya Pradesh Gau Samvardhan Board. The board runs over 600 registered gaushalas in the state in which over 1.4 lakh cows have a shelter. It has a deputy director, three doctors and six assistant veterinary doctors to look after the cows.
The Union government gives a annual grant of Rs 85 lakh grant to the sanctuary to buy fodder for the cows. The foundation stone of the sanctuary was laid by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in December 2012; it was formally started last year.
