Tripura: Once Stranded in International Borders, Now Cows Named after Caretakers 

Agartala, March 10, 2020:

Once stranded in the international borders and left on the whims of the Border Security Force (BSF), now the cows of Speahijala district of Tripura have their own names, kept after their caretakers who spend for their expenses — fodder, medications etc.

These cows, kept in Tripura’s Madhupur Goushala, which is run by the Dhyan Foundation, have names like Sambhu Lal, Govind and Damru, which are the names of persons who pay for their expenses every month.

It is also to be noted here that this Goushala in Tripura is the only such institution in the Northeast region, which provides rehabilitation to cows rescued from the Bangladesh border area.

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The unique drive has been launched by the foundation only recently in order to preach the idea of saving cattle. Speaking to the Inside Northeast, Deepsikha Binbal, a volunteer who is managing the entire adoption drive said that this initiative was a part of their motive to spread awareness on saving cows.

She said, “The Dhyan Foundation is largely associated with the cattle stranded in the borders. After they are declared no one’s property, we come forward to take care of them. Now we have initiated this noble program so that more people can get associated with the move”.

On being asked on Tripura Goushala in particular, she informed that already five to six adoptions have taken place in Tripura. People from any part of the globe can donate for the cause of the cows. Some donations in Tripura have been made even from the United States and Singapore, she added.

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On the procedure, she said, a separate desk has been installed in the Goushala where the paying parents can inquire about the animal. For each cow, a monthly Rs 2000 contribution has been set by the foundation which includes fodder, medication and all allied services, she told this reporter.

Another volunteer Lata Devi of the NGO who is known for voicing against the slaughter of cows, said, “The cow has been always considered to be a holy animal in the religious contexts as well commercially beneficial. The motive of Dhyan Foundation through its 35 Goushalas across the country is to rehabilitate the cows who have no one to take care of”.

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