India is a democratic country with many religions living in harmony with each other. When we talk about religious balance in the country, it is apt to mention that each religion is given equal importance and their beliefs are equally valued. Rajasthan as a state portrays communal harmony perfectly, where people have the right to practice their religion and have their own beliefs. In almost every household in India, Cows holds vital significance not just as a household animal but also has crucial religious significance in Hindu culture. They are widely kept by Indian households for its ability to provide milk and other dairy products. She is referred as “Gau Mata” by Hindus and is respected like a mother.
Since past few weeks, the state of Rajasthan has been in the center of news for all the wrong reasons. As per media, Hingonia Rehabilitation Center has been reported for the mass death of bovines due to the negligence of state government when people forgot to mention that Hingonia is not a “Goshala”, rather a Rehabilitation center where abandoned cows picked up from streets are brought for medical treatment. When they become well, they are auctioned by Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC). The cows brought here are already suffering from some serious ailments or have fallen ill because of eating lots of plastic lying around on streets. This is the reason they die on way to Rehabilitation center or while operation.
On one hand, the whole country was furious over cow deaths, the opposition created a high voltage drama where everyone forgot to mention that Hingonia is not a place where cows take birth and are being kept as a household animal, rather Hingonia is a cow Rehabilitation Center where cows having injuries are brought and given medicinal help. Congress including other opposition parties had the hidden motive of gaining political advantage out of the situation by using the sentiments of people and using it as a ladder to climb up for a victory in the next Rajasthan Assembly Elections in 2018. It is worth a read that during the regime of Congress, many cases of cow death was reported which were ignored by the administration. The reports of a large number of cow slaughters in past years under the rule of Congress made headlines.
None of the Government before has ever taken care of this cow shelter in the past 60 years. But, Rajasthan’s Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has taken an initiative for the proper management and care of Hingonia rehabilitation center. The Hingonia Rehabilitation Center was previously under the administration of Jaipur Municipal Corporation, where JMC was to auction the cows who have recovered from their suffering. It is true that people have some religious sentiments for cows but very few people came forward to take care of the cows. As most of the cows which came to Hingonia had already stopped providing milk or have aged, no one wanted to buy them in the auction. It leads to a significant rise in the number of cows in the Rehabilitation Center in the recent few years. As a result, JMC and authorities were being unable to take care of the Cows in such a huge number. The care and maintenance of cows were not authorized to JMC, and thus to solve the matter, CM Raje took the initiative to rope in a private player for its effective operation and providing proper care to cows.
For this, a principal approval has been given where the Rajasthan Government will join hands with Akshaya Patra Foundation. This foundation is the world’s largest non-profit organization (NGO) known to provide mid-day meal to approximately 1.6 million children every day in India. It is an internationally reputed organization known to help people at their own level.
CM Vasundhara Raje has been very concerned over the cow deaths issue as, despite the deployment of officials from three departments, there has not been any reduction in the cow deaths, which subsequently lead to this MoU with Akshaya Patra. She is a religious person who not only respects cows but also worships her.
A UHD officer said,
“Principal approval to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Akshaya Patra Foundation has been given by the state government. The final decision in this regard will be taken soon. The NGO will oversee the operations and maintenance of the cow center. Clauses of MoU are yet to be decided.”
Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had employed a team of experts including 17 veterinary doctors, two radiologists & engineering wing at the Gaushala for providing required medical attention to the cows. But, as per the sources, there was no significant decrease in the death number of cows and the situation remained unchanged. Hence, CM Raje initiated this step so that the Akshaya Patra Foundation works for the maintenance of cows in Hingonia. It is very appreciative of CM Vasundhara Raje as this step was not a politically oriented decision rather it came out of concern for the bovine creatures that die due to lack of facilities and timely medical attention. It is very prestigious that an internationally acclaimed organization like Akshaya Patra has joined Rajasthan Government’s and CM Vasundhara Raje’s initiative to prevent and save our “Mother Cow”.
