Cow cess on liquor ‘fails’ to save stray cattle in Himachal

Pankaj Sharma

Nahan, February 23

About 2,000 stray cattle are dying in the state every year, according to the figures of the 20th livestock census conducted in 2018-19. Thousands of abandoned cows are left to die in the harsh winters without proper food or shelter.

The situation is particularly worrying in the higher reaches of Sirmaur, Shimla, Kinnaur, Kullu, Mandi and Lahaul Spiti, where snow has blanketed the region and temperatures are low.

According to the census, there were a total of 36,311 stray cattle in the state. Out of these, 21,482 were kept in cow shelters run by NGOs and the government. However, 7,254 cows still roam on the roads of the state. The department does not have any information about the remaining 7,575 stray cattle because it is believed that they may have died in road accidents or due to the extreme cold or disease. These figures indicate that about 2,000 stray cattle die in the state every year.

The neglect of cows in the state has also raised questions about animal welfare and the priorities of the government. Despite the state collecting crores of rupees as cow or milk cess through the sale of liquor, the condition of cows in the state seems to be worsening by the day.

Emaciated and huddled together to stay warm under the open sky amidst the snow, they paint a grim picture of the state of animal welfare in the state.

Sirmaur animal rights activist Sachin Oberoi demanded immediate action to solve this problem. He cited the lack of proper cow shelters, inadequate veterinary care and large-scale abandonment of animals as the main reasons of this issue. These, coupled with the harsh winters, exacerbate the existing problems, leading to unnecessary suffering and death. The government’s move to collect cow and milk cess through the sale of liquor is also facing public ire and suspicion. While the government claims that the aim is to generate revenue for dairy development and provide aid to abandoned cows, the effectiveness of the scheme for the core issue of animal welfare is questionable, Oberoi added.

Dr Pradeep Sharma, Director (Animal Husbandry), said

Rs 22.33 crore had been given to the department from July 2019 to December 2023 as collection from the cess on the sale of liquor.

Along with this, Rs 1.46 crore had been given by various temple trusts during this period. There are currently a total of 261 cow shelters/sanctuaries in the state, 13 of which are run by the government, while the remaining 248 are run by NGOs.