German Woman Running Gaushala In Mathura Calls For Cow-based Farming, More Help From Government

Radha Kund (MATHURA) || A German woman who has been running a 'gaushala' here for long says that the government should work to make keeping cows at homes and farms profitable.

Padmashri Sudevi, nee Fredrike Irene Bruening, runs a cow shelter, Radha Surabhi Gaushala, in Radhakund in Mathura district which houses more than 1,800 cows and provides treatment to old, sick, and injured cows in the Braj area.

"Gaushala's can be helpful... But the need right now is to make 'gau sewa' profitable for the owners of the cows," she said. Sudevi said the government should promote cow protection in a big way to save agriculture.

People are consuming poison, falling sick, and are victims of all kinds of diseases because the grains, vegetables, and milk they consume, everything is contaminated. Chemical fertilisers are ruining agriculture. Cow dung and cow's urine are full of safe nutrients, she points out.

"The government should work on policies that would make keeping cows at home or farms profitable. Subsidised fodder, cheaper medicines, and perhaps buyback of cow dung could help," she said.

Sudevi urges the government to promote the use of cows for farming and organic products. The government should allocate land in each village and organise the purchase of gobar (cow dung) by the kilos. This should be turned into useful manure and other products including medicines, she adds.

"Returning to cow-based farming will prevent people from falling sick. Traditional farming techniques are good and time tested. Modified seeds are doing a lot of harm," she said.