“Cow slaughter is repugnant to the culture of this country. The provision of drinking warer to the people and putting an end to the killing of animals for food are two prime needs for the country to regain its pristine glory, VIOLENCE IN ANY FORM IS EVIL AND TO KILL INNOCENT ANIMALS IS NOTHING OTHER THAN BLATANT SAVAGERY. “
►Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
India’s “HOLY COW”
Originally, in India, milk was not the most important product from the cattle. Cows and bulls were used in fields and their dung and urine were used to make compost, medicine and other health products. Only the little extra milk left from the cow after feeding her calf was used by the family who owned the cow.
At present the cows/cattle are reduced to production units for milk and meat. Cow slaughter is more and more accepted and practiced in spite of it being illegal in India.
According to the Animal Laws in India, cows cannot be slaughtered. The practice of slaughter is extremely cruel and a disaster for the community and its agriculture-based economy.
Our aim is to restore the partnership between humans and cows
Our long-term objective is to put an end to all slaughter of cattle and to improve the conditions of local farmers through sustainable agriculture/organic farming and the use of all cow by- products.(not milk)
The Andhra Pradesh prohibition of cow slaughter and Animal Preservation Act 1977
(11 of1977) An act to provide for the prohibition of slaughter of cows,, calves of cows and calves of she buffaloes and for preservation .........
....no person shall slaughter or cause to be slaughtered, or offer or cause to be offered for slaughter, or otherwise intentionally kill, or offer, or cause to be offered for killing any cow or calf, whether male or female, or a she-buffalo.
Our history in cattle rescue:
Since 2002, Karuna Society has rescued over 500 cattle from illegal transport to slaughterhouses.
Since 2003, more than 200 rescued working bulls have been given for adoption to the local farmers under strict legal conditions.
We stopped the illegal cattle market at Gorantla, where there was no responsible authority. The market had turned into a centre for all illegal cattle trade and cruelty. We had to pay for these actions by an attack on our lives.
The High Court has given permanent custody of 305 cattle rescued by Karuna Society. The remaining cases are under trial.
Cattle Markets
In our rural area there are three cattle markets where all laws regarding loading and treatment are flouted/neglected. Overloading of trucks with cattle for slaughter happens within the premises of cattle markets. The loading is extremely cruel. No action is taken by the police.
Action taken by our organization at the cattle markets is answered by threats to our lives.
There is a vicious circle of reproduction/breeding and slaughter in which the farmers and the animals are losers; the slaughterhouses and the “powers that be” are the winners.
The consequences of the above are the loss of indigenous cattle wealth, which are drought and disease resistant, very useful for agricultural work and the production of valuable uncontaminated manure for compost and many byproducts. Slaughter can be completely avoided.
It is our experience that the rescue of cattle from the markets does nothing to change the system. It is only struggling uphill with heavy setbacks as there is no political will to change the cruel practice. The following week the same market continues, and although individual animal lives are saved by the rescue, we have no funds to maintain these animals. Their upkeep is difficult in our area with annual drought. In summer we have to keep our cattle inside and feed them grass and feed mix till the rains
Adoption of Indian working bulls to Local Farmers:
We are concentrating on the Indian Zebu cattle under our care and we are planning to give young healthy bulls, castrated, to the local farmer for adoption under legal conditions and payment of a refundable security.
When the animal being returned after hopefully many years of service, the farmer will receive back his initial amount. The cows will stay at Karuna as we do not want to give cows with offspring for milking to the local people as they will resort to old malpractices.
In the course of time, there will be more and more Karuna bulls in the villages, less and less bulls can be sent to slaughter as they have to be returned to Karuna.
We will starve the local cattle market of animals instead of fighting the butchers. At the same time we will have influence on the local farmers and we can get them more involved in organic farming, proper composting, biogas production etc. and hopefully waste management. (see Kindness farm)
For all our animals we will provide medical care.
