Rehabilitation of Aged Cows and Oxen in Rural Chittoor District

Dear Sir / Madam

*Rehabilitation of Aged Cows and Oxen in Rural Chittoor District *

*Rural Physically Handicapped Rehabilitation Centre [RPHCR]*

In the drought-stricken villages of Chittoor district, there exists a silent crisis that goes largely unspoken.

What becomes of an aged cow or ox after 10–12 years of faithful service—ploughing hard red soil, pulling carts, and providing milk for our children? For a small farmer earning ₹8,000 a month, feeding an animal that no longer generates income is impossible. Fodder costs ₹150 per day, and veterinary medicines cost ₹2,000. Consequently, with folded hands and tears in their eyes, farmers are forced to abandon their lifelong companions by the roadside or at the edge of the forest. Some farmers secretly sell these aged cows and oxen for meat to make money; thousands of them are clandestinely transported from rural Chittoor district to the state of Kerala at night for slaughter.

Over 200 aged cows and oxen in our mandals meet this tragic end—eating plastic bags, drinking contaminated water, getting run over by lorries, and dying in solitude. The very society that worships *Kamadhenu* (the sacred cow) abandons the animal once it grows old. At the *Rural Physically Handicapped Rehabilitation Centre (RPHCR)*, we asked ourselves a different kind of question: _If growing old is not a crime for humans, why does it become a death sentence for animals?_

We are an organization primarily dedicated to the welfare of the physically challenged. For the past 26 years, we have worked with physically challenged individuals in the rural areas of Chittoor—people often labeled a 'burden' because they cannot walk or work like others. In these abandoned animals, we saw a reflection of ourselves.

That is why we launched an inclusive model—*a sanctuary for the abandoned, run by the rejected.*

On three acres of barren land donated near Muthukuru, we built a modest rehabilitation shelter for 200 elderly cows and bulls. This is not a dairy farm; we do not milk them or use them for labor. It is a retirement home.

*How it works:*

Our volunteers rescue each animal in response to calls from village *sarpanchs* or farmers. Our veterinarian examines them—many suffer from dental issues, joint pain, injuries, and severe malnutrition. We provide them with soft fodder, *ragi* (finger millet) gruel, regular medical treatment, and a clean shelter.

And who looks after them? Our heroes — *people with physical disabilities.*

We have trained 25 individuals—including those with mobility impairments, polio survivors, and elderly farmers—as *Gosevaks* (caretakers of cows). 42-year-old Lakshmamma, who walks with the help of crutches, now tends to and feeds 30 cows. Venkatesh, a young man suffering from a spinal cord injury, produces vermicompost and *Panchagavya* products. This earns them a monthly stipend of ₹7,000, but more importantly, it restores their dignity. As Lakshmamma says, *"People used to say I couldn't even take care of myself. Now, I am caring for 30 living beings."*

The dung and urine from these 200 animals do not go to waste. We convert them into organic manure, *Jeevamrutham* (a bio-fertilizer), and bio-pesticides, providing them free of cost to 150 small-scale farmers. Their soil health is improving, their costs are decreasing, and they no longer feel compelled to abandon their livestock.

This is a complete circle of compassion: *Elderly animals gain dignity. People with disabilities find a livelihood. Farmers receive organic manure. The soil is restored.*

We dream of a place where no elderly cow is forced to eat plastic to survive, and no person with a disability in Chittoor has to resort to begging due to a lack of work.

200 lives are waiting—200 'mothers' and 'fathers' who have served us throughout their lives. All they need is a final sanctuary where they can rest without fear. This is not merely service to cows; it is service to the village and service to humanity.

Support our rehabilitation center for 200 elderly cows and bulls. Sponsor a month's worth of fodder for one elderly cow — Rs. 2,500.

Thanks and Regards

J. Shankar Reddy

President

Rural Physically Handicapped Centre For Rehabilitation