Over 12,000 cattle left to fend for themselves in parched Bundelkhand

Unable to manage water and fodder for their cattle, scores of farmers in the drought-hit districts of Bundelkhand have released over 12,800 domestic animals this summer so far to fend for themselves, says a recent survey.

Updated on: Jun 8, 2016, 14:31:12 IST

Hindustan Times, Bhopal | By Neeraj Santoshi

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Unable to manage water and fodder for their cattle, scores of farmers in the drought-hit districts of Bundelkhand have released over 12,800 domestic animals this summer so far to fend for themselves, says a recent survey.

In 37 villages, nearly 90% of the 14,000 cattle were abandoned by drought-affected villagers. (HT Photo)

In the Bundelkhand region, it is a tradition called ‘Anna Pratha’ according to which people release their animals to fend for themselves or die away from their sight.

Hari Gaikwar, a farmer from Tikamgarh’s Tanga village, couldn’t bear to see his cows slowly dying of hunger and thirst before his own eyes. So he did the ‘Anna Pratha’ — like many others.

According to the survey conducted in 66 villages in three worst drought-hit districts of Bundelkhand — Tikamgarh, Sagar and Chhattarpur — there is no water left for cattle in 56% of the villages. In 37 villages, nearly 91% of the 14,000 cattle were released by helpless villagers. Hundreds of cattle have died, say the locals, while activists say the famine has already set in for the cattle.

“In utter desperation, I released my five cows, two calves and one bull as I couldn’t arrange water or fodder for them. I couldn’t see them suffering before my own eyes. Only I know what it feels like when you see your cows leaving…”, said Gaikwar.

Sarika Sinha, regional manager of Action Aid MP, said the survey, which was conducted in April-May by Janpahal, a network of NGOs working in the drought-affected areas, Tikamgarh-based Madhya Pradesh Aapda Nivaran Manch and Action Aid, made them realise that famine-like conditions had already set in for domestic animals.

According to this survey, water was not available for cattle in 47% of the surveyed villages in Chhattarpur district, while in Tikamgarh district, the percentage of such villages was 45 %. Sagar district was the worst as 93% of the surveyed villages did not have water for the domestic animals.

Director animal husbandry Dr RK Rokde said he will ask his field staff in Bundelkhand to give him a report about the ground reality. “Many farmers in Bundelkhand release their cattle in summers. There is a tradition. But such a high figure is unusual. I will have to check with my staff. If the situation is alarming, we will take necessary steps,” he said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neeraj Santoshi
Neeraj Santoshi is the Chief of Bureau for Hindustan Times in Uttarakhand, where he leads the state reporting team while covering government, politics, environment, wildlife, Uttarakhand High Court, and issues shaping the Himalayan region. With more than two decades in journalism across conflict zones, he has covered politically sensitive regions and environmentally fragile landscapes, and focused on stories that combine public interest with in-depth storytelling. An alumnus of Pune University with a Master’s in Communication Studies, he has reported extensively from Jammu & Kashmir (2003-2010), Madhya Pradesh (2010 to 2018 ) and Uttarakhand (Since 2018), covering subjects ranging from insurgency, elections and governance to wildlife conservation, mining, climate change, agriculture, human rights and social justice. He has covered politics and legislative assemblies of both Jammu & Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh over more than a decade. Before taking over as Chief of Bureau in Uttarakhand, he served as Special Correspondent with Hindustan Times in Madhya Pradesh and earlier reported for both Hindustan Times and The Indian Express in Jammu & Kashmir, where he covered state politics, environment and insurgency-related developments. Over the years, his stories have focused on environmental degradation, wildlife, illegal mining, governance and the changing social fabric of Himalayan states and Central India. He is particularly interested in long-form explanatory journalism, and stories that explore the intersection of ecology, conservation, governance and society. Outside the newsroom, Neeraj enjoys reading widely on neuroscience, consciousness studies, Artificial Intelligence and quantum physics, with a special interest in Kashmiri Tantric Shaivist traditions. He is also passionate about wildlife, mountaineering and the Himalayas, interests that continue to inform his reporting and deepen his understanding of the region he covers.Read More

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