In 2013, a goshala or cow shelter was set up near the premises of the famous Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram, in order to ensure that unadulterated milk is provided to the temple for ritualistic purposes. Fast forward to July 2019, the condition of the goshala, which is owned by a private trust, is pitiable, to say the least. The goshala, which is located near the Kuthira Malika palace near the temple, houses around 30 cows, including 12 calves.
“It has been understood that the cows here have been deprived of proper food and shelter. Our priority will be providing the cows with proper food,” said Advocate K Raju, State Minister of Forests, Wildlife Protection and Animal Husbandry, after visiting the goshala on Wednesday morning.
The state of the cow shelter was brought to the attention of the media and the public after residents living near the temple found that a dog had reportedly killed a calf at the shelter last week. Following the incident, the locals found that most of the cows were malnourished, some could hardly stand up.