Barmer, Jaisalmer districts of Rajasthan are home to about 20% of indigenous cows (Bos Indicus) population of India. There are about 600 villages in these two districts with about 4 Lakh cows. This high population density is due to highly nutritious fodder (sewan, which grows in low rain fall areas) found in these region. These cows are owned by local farmers of these region who depend on these cows for their livelihood.

This year there has been a drought in this region due to which there is a severe shortage of fodder for these cows. The rains are expected in July, and the survival of these cows depends on fodder brought from other areas. We are losing about 500 cows due to starvation on a daily basis and total count in the last couple of months is about a Lakh.

When this news reached Sri Vishwadhiraja Thirtha Swamiji, the pontiff of Sri Rajarajeshwara Mutt, Udupi He immediately resolved to go the affected place in Rajasthan to help the dying cows in every way possible. He traveled all the way from Karnataka by road and reached Barmer on May 21, 2019. He has surveyed around 25 villages in this region. 

As of May 27th, in each village, there are about 250 cows which have been abandoned by farmers, and starving to death. The cost of supplying fodder to these abandoned cows to meet their bare survival needs for a month is about 1.2 Lakhs (for 20 tons of fodder) per village.  Swamiji hopes to help at least these 25 villages where he has been able to find fodder suppliers. 

This is a humble request to participate in this campaign and take part in GauSeva which is one of our primary dharma. 

Pictures of dead cows from Barmer region