GHHF Preserving Cultural Heritage Animal Welfare Amidst Growing Challenges
By akawrites124  June 20, 2024  
https://kreately.in/ghhf-preserving-cultural-heritage-animal-welfare-amidst-growing-challenges/
 
GHHF’s Mission And Ongoing Efforts Towards Animal Welfare
GHHF is dedicated to ensuring the well-being of animals by providing them with essential necessities. This mission is especially important in areas where animals are often neglected or lack survival resources. GHHF’s committed teams and volunteers work hard to reach these animals and offer them care and sustenance.
One of GHHF’s main initiatives is its program to provide food and water for animals. This program ensures that both stray and domesticated animals have access to food and water, even in areas where they might struggle to find it. Through partnerships with local communities and organizations, GHHF sets up feeding stations and water points in places where animals are known to be present. These efforts are crucial, especially during extreme weather conditions like droughts and heat waves, when animals struggle to find natural sources of food and water.
During the lockdown period, people could not go out and feed animals like cows, monkeys, street dogs, and birds. These animals typically relied on humans for food and water, whether in vegetable markets, temple areas, individual homes, or on the streets. Since people couldn’t go out to provide necessities, these animals went without food and water.
 
GHHF has also partnered with the Nitya Satyam organization in India to prevent the transportation and slaughtering of cows. They have intervened by contacting the police and intercepting vehicles carrying cows. In May 2022 in Assam, eighteen cows were rescued from a slaughter gang, with the Hindu Advocates Forum representing Dhyan Foundation, an organization dedicated to cow safety. Two individuals named Ariful Haque and Sahid Hussain Laskar filed a petition in court for custody of these cows and buffaloes, which were seized along with a truck at the Indo-Bangladesh border by the Border Security Force (BSF).
The Hindu Advocates Forum objected to their request and filed a counter-petition, citing judgments from the Supreme Court and the Guwahati High Court against giving custody of cows and buffaloes to individuals whose treatment of them was deemed cruel. They also referenced specific sections of the Animal Cruelty Act. After considering all arguments, the Chief Judicial Magistrate awarded custody of the eighteen buffaloes and cows to the Dhyan Foundation. Advocate Victor Das led the core legal team for this case.
 
The Global Hindu Heritage Foundation (GHHF) is committed to uplifting and supporting communities through various humanitarian efforts, promoting cultural heritage, and providing essential services to those in need. With the assistance of their dedicated team of volunteers, GHHF engages in numerous services for humanity, including:
•    Collecting cantaloupes from farms and feeding them to cows and monkeys.
•    Educating people about the richness of their cultural heritage.
•    Distributing shoes to the needy and underprivileged, enabling them to walk on the roads in Bharat.
•    Setting up water pandals to provide water and buttermilk, helping people stave off heatwaves.
•    Teaching ‘Bala Samskar Kendras’ students to plant trees on World Environment Day and to chant shlokas for concentration and peace of mind.
These activities and many others demonstrate GHHF’s unwavering dedication to serving humanity.
The Plight Of The Sick Cow
 
Among their numerous animal welfare cases, one particular story stands out and has garnered significant attention: a sick cow suffering from the ingestion of plastic waste. This unfortunate incident underscores a growing crisis that affects countless animals worldwide.
GHHF volunteers found the cow in a distressed state, exhibiting symptoms such as bloating, lethargy, and a lack of appetite. Upon further examination, veterinarians discovered that the cow had ingested a significant amount of plastic, obstructing its digestive tract. The presence of plastic waste in the cow’s stomach caused severe pain and potentially life-threatening complications.
The team immediately initiated a treatment plan, including surgical intervention to remove the plastic from the cow’s stomach and supportive care to aid in its recovery. The road to recovery for this cow will be long and challenging, requiring continuous monitoring and care. However, GHHF is committed to ensuring that this cow, like many other animals they care for, receives the best possible chance at a healthy life.
This incident also highlights the critical issue of plastic waste in today’s world, drawing attention to the urgent need for better waste management practices to protect animals and the environment.
The Importance Of Cattle
Cattle are considered sacred in world religions  – Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, ancient Israel, ancient Rome, and ancient Germany. In addition to this, the protection and preservation of the bovine species is prescribed by all the Hindu scriptures, extolled by ancient Rishis, praised by all Gods and Goddesses, and worshipped by Hindus. One of the four Vedas, the Rig Veda, mentions, “Cow is like the mother of the cosmic Forces, the daughter of the cosmic Matter, the sister of cosmic Energy, the centre of the ambrosia. I address to men of wisdom –kill not her, the sinless inviolate cow.”
Lord Krishna also goes by the names Govinda and Gopala, which literally means “friend and protector of cows.” Mahatma Gandhi, India’s legendary nonviolent leader, once wrote, “If someone were to ask me what the most important outward manifestation of Hinduism was, I would suggest that it was the idea of cow protection.”
 
Indian desi cows are considered auspicious for having a Surya Ketu Nadi (vein connected to the sun) passing through their backbone. It is believed that this nadi or vein absorbs the medicinal essence from the sun as when it interacts with solar rays, gold salts in her blood are produced. Thus the cow’s milk, butter and ghee assume golden hue. Thus, it  is all based on Science and nothing supersticious.
Desi cow is distinguished by a hump, which is absent from other cows. They also possess Dewlap (prominent specific fold of skin hanging below neck) which gives them immunity power. Dung of Vedic is always covered by thin membrane. It always has a pleasing odour. Most of the Desi cows produce A2 milk which is considered nutritious, rich in alpha-2 casein proteins, useful for healthy living. Based on research conducted by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), Karnal, the superiority of A2 milk in Indian breeds is established. On that note let’s all protect our cows and reap the benefits of having a Gaushala.
In addition to this, the Directive Principles of State Policy contained in Article 48 of the Constitution reads, “The State shall endeavour to organize agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall, in particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle.” A number of states have either banned or adopted a restrictive ban on the slaughter of the cows, no mechanism to enforce the Directive.
The Broader Impact Of Plastic Waste On Animals
 
The incident with the sick cow is not an isolated one. Around the world, animals face severe consequences due to the rampant disposal of plastic waste. From marine life to terrestrial animals, the impact is widespread and devastating.
Plastic waste in the environment can take hundreds of years to decompose. During this time, animals often mistake plastic items for food. For instance, sea turtles frequently consume plastic bags, mistaking them for jellyfish. Birds ingest tiny plastic particles, which can accumulate in their stomachs and lead to malnutrition or death. Land animals, like the cow cared for by GHHF, also suffer from ingesting plastic debris, which can cause blockages, injuries, and infections in their digestive systems.
The ingestion of plastics can lead to several health issues for animals, including blockages in the digestive tract, malnutrition, chemical contamination, and so on. Plastics often lead to various health complications affecting the reproductive and immune systems of animals.
The crisis of plastic pollution calls for immediate action. It is crucial to transition to green alternatives to mitigate the harm caused to animals and the environment. Strategies such as reducing plastic use, improving waste management, using eco-friendly materials, conducting public awareness campaigns, and taking legislative action against individuals violating the government’s rules and regulations for the protection of animals’ rights can help address this issue.
Conclusion
To conclude, the Global Hindu Heritage Foundation’s commitment to providing water and food to animals is a remarkable step towards making this world a better place to live in. Their dedicated care for a sick cow suffering from plastic ingestion also highlights the broader issue of plastic pollution. The plight of animals affected by plastic waste is a powerful reminder of the urgent need to transition to green alternatives and implement sustainable practices.
Every individual has a role to play in addressing this crisis. We can collectively make a significant impact by reducing plastic use, improving waste management, adopting eco-friendly materials, raising public awareness, and supporting legislative action. GHHF’s efforts serve as an inspiring example of how dedicated action and compassion can drive meaningful change, ensuring a better future for animals and the environment.