Cow slaughter ban: Cattle dying of thirst and hunger in Maharashtra

April 9, 2016

Osmanabad: Over the last six months, Laxman Ritapure lost ten of his cattle. Four cows, four bullocks and two calves. As Marathwada's searing drought lengthened into a second year, he ran out of water and fodder to feed them.cow-cattle

In this parched eight-district region where the drought has affected every single village, the beef ban which was enacted a year ago has come as a double whammy for farmers like Ritapure.

The new law extended Maharashtra's ban on cow slaughter to include bullocks. This cut off demand from abattoirs and paralysed trade at cattle markets. Soon, there was a steep price crash. "I took them to the cattle market last year but prices had halved. I tried to sell them again in January but there were no takers," says Ritapure.

He still 26 cattle left to feed. With just one acre to his name, Ritapure had bought ten animals seven years ago. The brood grew over the years. Ritapure now spends Rs 2,000 a week on fodder. The money he earns from selling milk just about covers this.

"If the government banned beef to save cows, it should look after them too," he says bitterly. Having raised the animals himself, losing them is particularly painful. "They are like my children. I would rather go without food myself than see them die," he says.

His neighbours have also lost their cattle in the last few months. Melon farmer Kiran Kale has lost one of his seven cattle. Suryakant Konde has lost a cow and a calf. "During the day, I just release my buffalo and calves. They graze on what they can find," says Konde, who has a three-acre field. The government is helping to fund 333 cattle camps set up in the region by private groups and NGOs, where water and fodder is given free.

As many as 3.2 lakh cattle in Marathwada are housed in the camps located in the worst-affected districts of Beed, Latur and Osmanabad.

For farmers desperate to save their livestock, the cattle camps are a life-line. But Mangrul's villagers say the nearest camp is five km away and difficult for them to access.

Farmers have to stay at the camp to look after their animals. But most camps don't provide bathing facilities or food for these care-takers. "I will have to travel home every day. Who can afford to spend Rs 50 a day on transport?" asks Ritapure.

"We do not run the camps," says Osmanabad collector Prashant Narnaware. "We approve applications from individuals or NGOs. We give them Rs 70 per animal per day from the National Disaster Relief Fund."

The majority of cattle camps are run by local politicians, including many who plan to stand for the zilla parishad elections next year.

The BJP's Santosh Hange, a member of the Beed zilla parishad and an aide of rural development minister Pankaja Munde runs a cattle camp at Nandurghat in Kaij Taluka. Hange plans to stand for the zilla parishad polls and is acutely aware that the camp will endear him to his electorate. "I am helping them during a crisis. They will remember me," he points out.

In camps that provide food and water for the farmers tending to cattle, entire families have moved in.

"There is more water for us here than in our own village," says dairy farmer Bharat Baglani who has been living at Shiv Sangram politician Rajendra Mhaske's cattle camp in Beed for the last eight months.

Comments

Sameer Kandak
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

Better to trade all these cow to baba pathanjali , he can utilize for his low standard items like milk , butter & ghee etc etc

A message
 - 
Saturday, 9 Apr 2016

Dear Anthony,
U wrote everything right... But the last sentence on God...
ISLAM says ALLAH is the creator of all that exists.. & He knows whatever happening in this earth.. He is the most MERCIFUL.. cos of his mercy, Some of his creation do the evil and get away... But there is DAY it will accounted. That is the day, We will have to answer everything for the DEEDS done in this world which is the creation of ALLAH.
Suffering will exists in this world and those who oppressor people with their evil power will have permanent punishment unless they REPENT sincerely.. ALLAH forgives every sin except associating partners with HIM in WORSHIP.
God will SAve this COUNTRY for sure from the EVIL which we people CREATED cos people just believe what is said to them in the media....and elect leaders who doenst make sense...
When we look into who is ALLAH the true God, ALLAH's help comes even if you are in the deepest of the ocean calling him to help.
First Know who is ALLAH. When U know who is ALLAH surely U will depend on ALLAH and then the fear of such pity evil leaders will VAnish ... from your Fearful hearts that has been oppressed by these evil leaders.

Satyameva jayate
 - 
Saturday, 9 Apr 2016

Prakash..there are lot of genuine problems where wordings can bec twisted leave it...how can you save your Mata or how gods could die of thirst and hunger chodh yaar....ask you Hindu god saviors to stop this bulshit and stop seeing beef eaters.....as said in pk movie...sabh wrong number hai. just to screw minorities..
Sue your bjp rulers who can't save your God.

Rikaz
 - 
Saturday, 9 Apr 2016

RSS and Bajrangies should provide proper basic water and food supplies to these innocent animals.....it is solely those cow protectors responsibility to take care of them....they talk too much about cow now let they solve this problems too...

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News Network
April 11,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 11: The coronavirus-driven lockdown will continue for another 15 days, but relaxations will be allowed in a graded manner, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said after a four-hour-long video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.

“Agriculture and industrial sectors will be given relaxation. Government offices will be allowed to work with partial strength. But the PM said detailed guidelines will be issued in two days,” Yediyurappa said, briefing reporters. 

“Importantly, the lockdown for the next two weeks will be different than how it was in the past three weeks. The Centre, keeping in mind economic activities, especially agriculture, industry and employment of labourers, the Centre will tell us what needs to be done,” the CM said.
 
According to Yediyurappa, PM Modi told all chief ministers that the next 2-3 weeks will be critical. “The next few weeks will decide whether or not we have succeeded. If the situation worsens, we have to face the crisis,” Yediyurappa said, quoting Modi. 

Apparently, Modi sought details on the COVID-19 situation from 12-13 states where the situation is grave. “He did not take a report from Karnataka,” Yediyurappa said. “This morning, seven new cases were reported in the state, taking our tally to 214. Nationally, we were in the third place; we’re now 11th,” he said, hailing the efforts of officials involved in fighting the pandemic. 

The CM said it was “inevitable” to continue the lockdown for another 15 days. “But for citizens to get essential supplies, there’s no bar on them going by walk alone. Also, we will see to it that agricultural activities are not affected anywhere,” Yediyurappa said.

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News Network
March 1,2020

Udupi/Mangaluru, Mar 1: A total of twenty leaplings were born in the hospitals of the Udupi and Dakshina Kannada (DK) districts on Saturday, February 29, district health department said on Sunday.

According to the district health department, sixteen babies were born in DK district while Udupi district saw four births. More boys than girls were born in DK (12–4) and it was the inverse in Udupi district (3–1).

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News Network
March 19,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 19: Medical Education Minister Dr Sudhakar on Wednesday said that the government is increasing the number of labs for COVID-19.

"For the last two months, screening has been done at airports. Quarantine is also being done. The situation was reviewed by the state cabinet. All passengers from abroad will be home quarantined or they can stay at government facilities or budget hotels or resorts or private hospitals," Sudhakar said in the Assembly.

"We have issued many advisories. Until 31st March, pubs, and hotels, religious events, should not have an assembly of more than 100 persons. Two bulletins will be issued twice a day. All those who arrive from abroad will be stamped that they have arrived from abroad. Covid-19 is growing at a phenomenal pace. We need not panic but we need to be cautious," he said.

Sudhakar continued: "There are 54 labs in the country. Karnataka has five labs, the most among all states. We are increasing the number of labs. In our country, we have tested less than 10 per cent. In Karnataka, we should conduct test on more people."

The minister said the government will devise a way to be able to track down all those home quarantined through their mobile phones.

"Karnataka stands fourth after Maharashtra, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh. We are in the second stage. The next 2-3 weeks are detrimental. This is a pandemic situation. People have to also take responsibility. Social distancing is the real solution and key to eradicating this COVID-19. In the larger interest of the health of the state, we have to take drastic measures," he said.

"We are now in the 2nd stage. The next 3 weeks are very important. If we take care, the state can escape what's happening worldwide," he said.

Congress MLA UT Khader demanded action against those people who do not follow rules.

"Only shutting airports will not help. What about domestic passengers? Coronavirus must come under Ayushman Bharat. Keep isolated patients away from normal people in the ICU in government hospitals. Take action against those who do not follow the rules," he said.

Congress MLA Dr Yathindras said that screening is not enough and travelers need to be lab tested.

A total of 151 positive cases of coronavirus have been reported in India so far, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Wednesday.

Thirteen positive cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Karnataka till today.

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