Corporates’ social welfare through a gaushala
Corporate honchos want to be unique in whatever they do. The three promoter-brothers – Arun Kumar Biyani, Ajay D. Biyani and Anil D Biyani – of Damodar Threads are no different.
The Biyani brothers, through their family-owned Damodar Trust, have started a gaushala on 5.5 acres at Valsad in Gujarat for 70 Gir breeds – the species said to be herded by Lord Krishna. The trust employs 12 people for upkeep of the gaushala and has leased another 10 acres for growing fodder for the cows.
Ardent followers of Lord Krishna, the Biyani brothers’ idea of setting up a gaushala emerged one year ago from a discussion with their guru on sponsoring social welfare projects.
Ajay D. Biyani, Director, Damodar Threads, said the population of pure Gir breed is fast shrinking and it may not be more than 2,000 in India, while Brazil has more than 10 lakh.
In fact, Brazil has started exporting Gir semen and embryo for transplantation to New Zealand, Australia, Denmark, Austria and European countries to improve the breed of their cows, he said.
Every gaushala, says Ajay, is started with good intention largely with public donation, but when the cows and bulls increase, donations shrink leaving no money to feed the cows. There are no dedicated veterinary doctors in most of these barns. As the cows get old, their milking capacity also goes down upsetting the very survival of the gaushala.
If one does not have the time to take care of the cows, they should not donate them in the name of gaudan to others as it will become a burden on the person who receives them. Rather than giving money, it is always better to arrange for cow feed, give land or arrange for the medical facility at the existing gaushala, says Ajay.
Renga, said to be the naughtiest among residents at the Damodar Gau Seva Kunj, was shaking his head heavily when Ajay, who visits them daily, fed him jaggery. Each cow is recognised by name.
“We had taken special care of cows and bulls at our gaushala by providing quality food and enough open space. A cow gives about 15-18 litres of milk daily. In a bid to make the gaushala self-sustainable, we are doing organic farming near the gaushala and have drawn a detailed plan for marketing Panchagavyasherbal product, which has been accepted as antibiotics and bio-enhancer even by the modern medicine,” said Ajay. Panchagavya is a mixture of cow milk, curd, ghee, urine and dung. Read More…