In this farmland, death is an everyday visitor
- Government help does not reach Karnataka farmers whose cattle become the victims of rain god.
- Death of milch cattle has worsened the condition of the farmers who depended on their milk for survival.
- Farmers have no money for a proper burial of the carcasses and therefore leave the carcass out in the open.
FollowNews reports have been covering the condition of the drought-hit farmers in the southern states of India, but none have really spoken about the plight of the cattle in these areas. A visit to the outskirts of Dantahalli village will tell you what we mean. The once plush green farmlands have now turned into open graveyards for the cattle. Without water or enough fodder, every household has a sad story to narrate.
Villagers complain that not a single day has passed when an animal has not died. The Cauvery river is located just 4 kilometers away from the village, but is all dried up. If this story of death and dilapidation is not enough to wrench your heart with sorrow, embrace yourself for more.
[Read: Drought-hit Tamil Nadu farmers may now gherao the parliament]
The farmers who have been dependent on cattle for milk and cow dung have another story to tell. In good times, milk from their cattle was sold at a good price at the Kowdahalli dairy and the earning was over and above their regular agricultural income. Moreover, the cow dung that they sold to the local market also fetched them a good price.
However, now the situation is completely different. Villagers do not even have enough money for a proper burial of the cattle. So, they drag their carcasses to the field and leave them there to rot. While the villagers are used to the government apathy, their only hope now lies in the weather God.
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