Sheltering of old, unproductive and abandoned cows in traditional cow shelters (gaushalas) is an ancient practice in India. Cows are venerated as mother goddesses by the Hindu majority population of the country and their slaughter is illegal in most states.

The sheltering of old, abandoned, unproductive, infertile and infirm cows in shelters, referred to as “Gaushalas” is a traditional practice in India.

Once a cow grows old and stop giving milk, their owner disowns them because they are of no use to them. Thousands of such innocent cows are left on the street without a home. Many of these are just aged, injured, or abandoned. Some of these cows fall prey in the hands of butchers. Others are deeply starved and move from one place to another in search of food bearing the brunt of weather. These cows are insulted, canned and even pelted with stones. Some of these even meet with fatal accidents, others groan in pain due to severe injuries waiting for medical attention. The life of these cows become miserable.