VIGIL AT AAREY MILK COLONY
On 28th February 2021, I participated in a vigil at the Aarey dairy farms. This was the first animal welfare event that I had participated till date. Since long I wished to participate in activities related to animal welfare, but didn’t know where to start. This event organized by the Mumbai Animal Save group provided me the opportunity to begin with my wish to work in animal welfare matters.
We visited the farms in the evening. The scene on the farms was one of bondage and slavery. One of the cows was tied by a rope in such a manner that she couldn’t raise her head properly and assume a normal posture. I witnessed tears rolling from her eyes. The compulsion to stand in a difficult posture for long hours and suffer immense pain could be the reason. I always experienced fear and anxiety when I had to travel in a cramped place, for example, the middle berth in sleeper class coaches in trains. The frustration, fear and anxiety running in the cow’s mind due to being in that difficult posture can be excruciating. But, the question is why should an animal be subjected to such harsh treatment and cruelty?
Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act prohibits any person from “keeping for any unreasonable time any animal chained or tethered upon an unreasonably short or unreasonably heavy chain or cord”. Therefore, what I witnessed is nothing less than a criminal act committed by the caretaker of the animals, as per the law of the land.
Next, I came across a couple of 10 day old calves. They were so beautiful and cute, instantly I felt to caress and love them. But, I couldn’t get a proper response from them. The owner told me that their mother is tied away from them. Probably, being away from their mother is disturbing them. Calves being kept away from their mothers is cruel to both, the cow and the calf.
For those who don’t look deep, these images might not evoke emotions. But, one has to look carefully to understand that these animals live and thrive with their family, and cannot survive without their family and loved ones, just like us.
Next, I witnessed the hygiene conditions of the farms. I could see most of the animals standing in their excreta. At some farms the owners did wash the animals and the places where they stood, at the end of the day. But, at one place I could see a young calf sitting in a pool of urine and dung. I felt deep regret for the kind of life these creatures are experiencing.
Finally, I witnessed a prison camp at the dairy farm. These animals are nothing more than prisoners of the dairy industry which milks them dry. But, if we look at the rising demand for milk, such cruel practices are naturally going to become normal business practices. Therefore, it is important that individual human beings reduce their dependency and consumption of milk so that the rising pressure on the dairy industry to breed animals in lakhs and kill them in thousands, gets reduced.
But, why will the youth of this country get affected by such scenes of slavery? The working class of today slog in their jobs for long hours. Those who live in invisible prisons, who are tethered to the same job and to the same desire for worldly possessions, may buy the argument that these animals have to prove their value and their value can be equated with profit only; if they don’t make profit for their owners, they have no value in this world — the kind of statements they hear from the society day-in and day-out. Therefore, it is likely that it will be assumed that whatever is being experienced by the animals is part of their job. BUT, THAT IS NOT TRUE!
I will continue visiting dairy farms in future to search for more evidence of animal cruelty in the dairy industry. I believe the journey will continue until these lovely creatures of God are allowed the freedom and life that each animal deserves on the Earth. As humans are heading towards a more inclusive and sustainable future, it is important that these animals get their share of space, dignity, liberty and life on Planet Earth.
