Uttar Pradesh’s Mukesh Dixit took on the responsibility of running the animal shelter in the year 2015. He created social media pages for raising funds for the Gaushala. Presently, he takes care of 198 animals in his ‘Anaath Gau Seva Ashram.’
Devaria: Mukesh Dixit, a resident of Devaria, Uttar Pradesh, runs an NGO called ‘Anaath Gau Seva Ashram’ (shelter home for orphaned cows). His father, and elder brother, Atish Dixit started the Gaushala (cow shed), in the year 1994 with only 7 animals. In the year 2015, Mukesh Dixit was handed over the responsibility of the Gaushala.
The circumstances at home were such that eating meals three times in a day was considered a luxury. Despite all the financial constraints that he went through, he never let his cows suffer. Presently, he takes care of 198 animals in the Gaushala. The animals live under the open sky with tin sheds as their shelter. This allows them to move freely in the open grounds and not feel restricted.
Mukesh’s background
This Seva Ashram is about 2 kilometres away from Bhatni market in Deoria, near the police station. Initially, there was no tin shed in the Gaushala due to the limited financial resources. Mukesh shares that his nephew was once taking care of the animals in the Gaushala, when he was bitten by a venomous snake and died on the spot.
At times, when Mukesh could not feed the cows, they would go in search of fodder in the village which often led to fights and arguments within the village community. It was in 2015 that Mukesh decided to take on the responsibility of running the Gaushala more seriously.
Improving conditions
Mukesh shares that the first three years were full of struggle for him. Since he had no money on him, he created Facebook and WhatsApp groups to raise funds for his cowshed. Over time, majority of the cows have become healthier, and they also produce milk which in turn helps Mukesh in earning money from milk sales. He further shares that the villagers also extend their support now.
Demand for cow urine
The cows when they are first brought to the Gaushala are often found in poor health condition. Most of the sick and malnourished cows do not receive any help from the local people, however, some people are generous enough to bring them to Mukesh’s Gaushala.
After becoming healthy, the same cows produce nutritious milk that Mukesh sells in the market. There are plenty of health benefits associated with the use of cow urine, and thus, the demand for cow urine is also high.
An animal rescuer
Mukesh Dixit not only tend to the animals in his cow shed but also extend his care to sick and injured animals he encounters on the road. He informs the animal husbandry department and, when possible, brings these needy animals to his cow shed for treatment. Mukesh Dixit's commendable efforts have been recognized and honoured by Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra and other public figures during public ceremonies.
The companionship
Each and every animal within the cowshed has been given a name. The staff at the Gaushala addresses all the animals with their names. This unique practice fosters a heartwarming bond between the cows and the human caretakers on the premises. When an animal is called by its name, it responds eagerly by moving towards the person calling it, showcasing heartwarming form of communication between humans and animals.
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