-SATISH HANDA

Residents of entire state were in the state of shock on the information that 10772 cows died due to utter neglect and hunger in 118 ‘goshalas’ in Sirsa district in past 15 months. Surprisingly, there is no record available with the organisers of most of the ‘goshalas’ as well as Gau-sewa Commission constituted by the state government for the welfare of cows. Information further reveals that there are nearly 4 lakh cows lodged in 578 ‘goshalas’ in Haryana state facing severe neglect and hunger and amount worth only 39 paisa is being spent on the feeds of each animal everyday. State government Haryana has increased annual budget of Gau-sewa Commission from Rs 45 lakh to Rs 30 crore, which had assured to make Haryana state stray -animal free by August 15, 2018 and the period was further enhanced till January 1, 2019 but failed to fulfil assurance and situation turned bad to worst. Large number of stray cows are seen wandering on the roads everywhere in search of foods causing frequent road mishaps and many seen struggling for life due to hunger and adverse weather conditions. Sadly, even municipal committees or municipal corporations has no record about stray animals or any action plan in this regard. Information reveals, State Information Commissioner Haryana held a meeting in this regard with ADCs from every district in the state on February 3, 2020 at Chandigarh to solve the issue.

Information also reveals, the amount collected as donations from various social welfare organizations and aid by the state government is usually spent on the feeds of milk producing cattle lodged in ‘goshalas’ by the management, whereas  stray animals are left without food and most of them die due to hunger and neglect. Information also reveals that there are 3,99,953 cows lodged in 578 ‘goshalas’in Haryana state, which include 45280 cows in 118 ‘goshalas’ in Sirsa district, 33158 cows in 60 ‘goshalas’ in Fatehabad district, 46236 cows in 58 ‘goshalas’ in Hisar district, 35989 cows in 40 ‘goshalas’ in Jind district,  19923 cows in 31 ‘goshalas’ in Bhiwani district,  10220 cows in 27 ‘goshalas’ in Kurukshetra district,  36041 cows in 27 ‘goshalas’ in Sonepat district,  17377 cows in 25 ‘goshalas’ in Panipat district,  18589 cows in 24 ‘goshalas’ in Mohindergarh district, 16993 cows in 23 ‘goshalas’ in Karnal district, 19944 cows in 19 ‘goshalas’ in Kaithal district,  21607 cows in 17 ‘goshalas’ in Gurugram district, 6026 cows in 15 ‘goshalas’ in Palwal district, 4770 cows in 13 ‘goshalas’ in Charkhi Dadri district, 22612 cows in 13 ‘goshalas’ in Rohtak district, 6219 cows in 12 ‘goshalas’ in  Nuh (Mewat) district, 4454 cows in 11 ‘goshalas’ in Panchkula district, 16462 cows in 11 ‘goshalas’ in Jhajjar district, 5413 cows in 10 ‘goshalas’ in Ambala district, 5655 cows in 9 ‘goshalas’ in Rewari district, 2916 cows in 8 ‘goshalas’ in Yamunanagar district and 4568 cows in 7 ‘goshalas’ in Faridabad district.

There are strict laws by the government in Haryana state against accused violating rules, since sale or slaughtering a cow in Haryana state is strictly banned by the government liable for imprisonment for a period ranging up to 10 years and fine up to Rs 1 lakh.. Those smuggling cows to other states for slaughtering are liable for imprisonment between 3 to 7 years and fine up to Rs 70000. There is imprisonment between 3 to 5 years and fine up to Rs 50000 to those selling cow mutton in the state.