Re-Imagining Goshalas for holistic well being.

Abstract

Gaushala has diverse purposes, its main aim is to provide shelter to stray cattle, improve the health of infirm, unproductive, diseased and abandoned cattle. Along with that, Gaushalas help in conserving the Indian germplasm and cow progeny. Some Gaushalas are involved in upgrading the local breeds and use them to supply plenty of pure indigenous milk & other products prepared particularly from cow dung and cow urine and supply the best female calves to the villagers. But these Gaushalas are facing various problems on several aspects, particularly on economic front due to lack of government support, delays in funding, less space and feed availability etc. Thus, it is important to find economical ways with which they can run and provide shelter to large number of animals on sustainable basis. In a goshala, cattle are respected, venerated and treated with dignity. The goshala protects hose cows/calves which would have been mercilessly killed otherwise. Goshalas offer you a chance to participate in this ritual to put animal waste to use and purify the environment. The aim is to design a self-sustainable model of gaushala concept that supports economy to run gaushalas, promotes re-adopting natural neat cattle farm-based agriculture, and opportunities for rural youth for employment generation and better livelihood in rural areas. Also to provide health, education and cow-based research institution for the holistic wellbeing. Understanding the concept of this model and spending leisure time in gaushalas. It needs to be revived and seen as an essential part of Indian agricultural rejuvenation.