Activists allege calves separated in JMC-G's cattle rescue drive

Jaipur: A drive by Jaipur Municipal Corporation-Greater (JMC-G) to rescue stray cattle and send them to Hingonia Gaushala appears noble in intent, but disturbing truths lie beneath the surface. Animal welfare activists allege that young calves are being picked up under the guise of rescue, separated from their mothers, and then wrongly registered as adult cows or bulls at the shelter.

Kapil Bajpai, an animal rights worker from Pratap Nagar, recently rescued five such calves. "The workers prefer catching calves because adult cows and bulls are harder to manage," he said. "It's an easier way to meet rescue quota, but it's the calves who pay the price."

This isn't the first such instance. Bajpai recalls that around 18 months ago, when a private firm had the contract for cattle rescue, a similar case emerged. Responding to the allegations, Dr Rakesh Kaloria of the JMC-G's animal management division said, "Yes, there were complaints during the earlier tendered operations. That's why the corporation now handles rescues directly."