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Sir Monier
Williams a famous
Sanskrit scholar
who developed
Sanskrit-English
dictionary lists
72 equivalents for
Gau (Cow ). The
cow is revered in
tradition-bound
Indian families as
member.
Unfortunately, the
strengths of
Mother cow – a
living symbol of
spiritual
consciousness
could not receive
desired attention
in the modern
society due to
increasing
influence of
Western
material-oriented
perception of
life. Worshipping
of cow in
metropolitan
society has
remained as a
religious and
cultural ritual.
Though, cow
worshipping
continues in
traditional Indian
families, which
are still governed
by the discipline
of religious
rituals, it could
not spearhead a
cultural
renaissance in the
technology-driven
modern society.
New government's
decision to impose
a total ban on cow
slaughter is a in
fact a step
towards attainment
of cultural
renaissance.
India’s holy
scriptures
specially
Atharvaveda and
Manu Smriti
prescribe severe
punishment for
killing of cows.
Manu Smriti ranks
killer of cow as a
predator and
prescribes hard
punishment for
him. The widely
appreciable
initiative to
protect cows and
harness its life
sustaining
strengths is a
dedicated to
rejuvenation of
state's farm-based
rural economy. The
mythological
history of India
offers a number of
instances, which
underline the
importance of
cow-worshipping.
Maharshi Vasishtha
served the divine
Kamdhenu. Maharshi
Dhanvantari
offered to mankind
a wonder medicine
Panchagavya (a
combination of cow
urine, cow milk,
cow dung, ghee,
and curd). Lord
Krishna’s cow
worshipping is
well know. The new
government desires
revival of the
pious practice in
advancing
communities. It is
indeed a tribute
to a divine
practice of Jeev
Seva (Welfare of
all living
beings).
As announced by
the Chief Minister
Sushri Uma Bharti,
an ordinance
imposing a total
ban on cow
slaughter has come
into force. No
person could kill
cows, nor get them
killed. No person
could hand over
cows for
slaughter, nor
could get it done
by others. If
found guilty, such
persons will be
awarded three
years imprisonment
and will have to
pay a fine upto Rs.
10,000 or be
awarded both.
A total ban has
been imposed on
cow slaughter and
bovine animals. No
person could keep
beef in his
possession. The
cow slaughter
related crimes
have been made
cognizable and
non-bailable.
Responsibilities
for strict
enforcement of the
ordinance are
being assigned to
Veterinary
Officers. They
could enter,
inspect any place
and conduct a
search where they
sense any
possibility of cow
slaughter.
The state
government is
working on an
action plan to
strengthen all the
organizations
dedicated to
protection of
cattle of bovine
family. Presently,
the state has over
550 registered Gau
Shalas having
about two lakh
bovine animals.
Grants are being
given to these Gau
Shalas for care of
disabled, old,
ownerless and
unproductive
animals. It is
being actively
considered to
increase grants to
Gau Shalas. The
final figures of
17th livestock
census would help
prepare strategies
for integrated
cattle health
care. Data about
ownerless cattle
will also enable
the state
government
formulate
well-contemplated
schemes. Mechanism
of free land
distribution to
Gau Shalas will
also be
streamlined.
An action plan has
been chalked out
for rearing of
cows by jail
inmates utilizing
the agriculture
land available
within jail
premises. A
proposal to give
training to
prisoners as Gau
Sevak is also
under
consideration so
that they could
engage themselves
in the service of
the Mother Cow and
financially
sustain themselves
after they
complete
imprisonment.
Central jail
Bhopal has
launched a unique
initiative
engaging prisoners
in rearing of
cows. The milk
they get is given
to ailing
prisoners and
their children.
Training to Gau
Sevaks on a
regular basis
would also be
given. Authorities
in other jails
have been asked to
take similar
initiative.
Expansion of
animal husbandry
activities would
give a boost to
rural economy of a
progressing state
like Madhya
Pradesh. Experts
say that pyramid
shaped hump of cow
absorbs solar
energy. Cow is
vegetarian and
therefore its
urine and milk
have medicinal
properties. Cow
urine and
Panchgavya serve
as useful drug for
controlling many
diseases.
Conjugated
linoleic acid in
cow milk prevents
the uncontrolled
spread of
cancer-affected
cells.
Processing of cow
urine based
pesticides has
immense commercial
potential. Since
Madhya Pradesh is
promoting organic
farming on a
massive scale, cow
dung in large
quantity would
always be
required.
Continuous use of
chemical
fertilizers has
eroded soil
fertility. Organic
manures in a large
quantity would be
required to make
soil fertile. A
cow produces 80
tones of organic
manure in a year.
“Huge
expenditures on
chemical
fertilizers could
be curtailed by
promoting organic
manures and
bio-pesticides
prepared by using
cow dung and cow
urine ” says
Shri Jhumarlal
Tavri who is
heading
International
Agriculture Cow
environment
Protection Council
Durg.
Availability of
cow dung would
promote the
popular use of bio
gas plants. “The
power crisis could
be resolved to a
certain limit by
promoting bio-mass
based power
generation units
and installing
bio-gas plants in
every Gau Shala’’,
says Shri Y. B.
Joshi an executing
engineer of Urja
Vikas Nigam. The
state government
has taken up an
appreciable
programme of
installing bio gas
plants in Gau
Shalas and they
are being provided
grants with the
cooperation of
Mandi Board to
install bio-gas
plants. Many Gau
Sevaks like Shri
Hukum Chand Sanola
of Indore advocate
the idea of
establishing a
model Gau Shala
for every five-six
Panchyats.
Voluntary care of
cows would also
promote dairy
business and help
improve economic
lot of poor cattle
keepers involved
in milk
production. At
present the state
has about five
thousand primary
milk producers’
cooperative
societies
involving over two
lakh rural milk
producers. The
consumption of cow
milk products
would increase in
the health
conscious urban
society and thus
bring economic
benefits to the
cow milk
producers.
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