Himachal: One caretaker, 300 cattle, basic facilities for just 150

Himachal Pradesh: Expressing concern over the alleged pathetic condition of cattle at the Gausadan at Rangri near Manali, social activist Gautam Thakur has alleged that more than 300 cattle are being kept in the shelter home that has a capacity of 150 cows. He said only one caretaker was working to look after the Gausadan run by the Manali Municipal Council. Thakur said that recently 4 cattle died after getting stuck between the new wall constructed for the garbage plant at Rangri and the crate wall. He said that the shortage of fodder for the shelter home is a worrying problem. He said that many generous residents regularly donate fodder, however, it is affecting the animals due to the excessive burden on the Gausadan. Gokul, a resident of the area, said that the area experiences severe cold and the situation worsens as the shelter home is located on the river bank. “The problem increases in winter, especially after snowfall.

Last year, some cattle were sent to the Gausadan at Katrai. Many cattle die due to the harsh cold in winters. With negligible financial support from the government, there is little chance of improving the infrastructure of the Gausadan,” he said. In January 2022, about 15 cows and bulls had died at the shelter. Another area resident Ved Ram demanded proper arrangements for the cattle at the shelter. “The government makes tall claims about the safety of cows, but no results are seen on the ground. The government should allocate more funds for the shelter, and make adequate arrangements to protect the cattle from the cold weather,” he said. Another social activist Anil claimed about the condition of cattle in the state, “Stray cattle can be seen roaming on highways, roads, lanes and paths almost all over the state. These pose a threat to travellers and can also injure themselves fatally on these paths. A well-planned strategy needs to be made to provide safe shelter to stray cattle.”