Special Story

Muslim men living under containment zone desperately looking for Hindu milkmen for milking their cows

Biswabrata Goswami

KRISHNAGAR, 22 APRIL: Thousands of Muslim men, who are now being forced to live under containment zone, are desperately looking for Hindu milkmen for milking their domestic cattle. For the last few days, hundreds of cows were not milked as no milkmen popularly known as Ghosh community are allegedly being allowed to enter into the Muslim dominated village soon after the Nadia district administration announced Charatala under Chapra police station area as a containment zone.

The village has been declared as a containment zone when an ex-BSF jawan was tested positive for Covid-19.

The problem has been aggravated as the Muslim community men living in the village are not habituated of milking their cows. Normally, Ghosh community men, who are basically involved in dairy business, used to go to the village for milking the cows. But, soon after the village was announced as a containment zone, police are not allowing any outsiders including the milkmen to get entry inside the village.

“As a result, hundreds of cows are not being milked. We are trying to milk our cows, but we are unable to do the job properly. This problem has become acute as the daily demand within our community for feeding our children is not being met. Even those who used to sell milk to the milkmen have started suffering from a monetary crisis”, said Mustakil Mollah, a resident of Charatala.

Mollah also said, “Our village is not a small one. We have four panchayat members. Around five to six thousand people are living here. Most of the families rear cattle like cows and buffalos. Many of them maintain their livelihoods by selling milk. But, we solely depend on the Hindu Ghosh community for milking the cows. Soon after the village suddenly came under the containment zone, no milkmen are being allowed to enter in our village. This has left us in deep distress”.

Aminul Sheikh, another resident said, “Every day, the milkmen purchase around 600 liters from this village alone. They then sell the milk and its produces to the sweet shops situated in the towns. Thus,  a local economic cycle existed in the village has been grossly hampered while trying to breach the chain of the dreaded novel coronavirus by taking the entire village in the quarantine”.

A state animal husbandry and dairy department official said, “Should a cow not be milked for a long enough time, she could develop a mastitic infection as bacteria enter the teat and mammary, and become gravely ill. Alternatively, biological feedback will cause milk production to decrease and eventually cease after about a week if it’s not being used.”

A teacher who did not wished to be named said this phenomenon once again proves that people do not bother religion and caste when they face deep crisis. To resolve the situation, the local administration should come forward, he added. 

The Charatala residents also alleged that they have repeatedly urged the district administration to look into this milking problem, but not to avail yet.

The villagers, however, alleged “The milkmen are also less interested in milking the cows because they fear of getting infected if they enter into the village. This apart, they are avoiding themselves from being harassed by the police. As the demand of milk and cheese has been grossly lowered, they are also less interested to come in the village". 

“This apart, we are also suffering from acute drinking water shortage. The local administration assured us of providing adequate drinking water during this containment time, but no enough step has been taken yet”, alleged Mollah.

When asked, Vibhu Goel, district magistrate, said, "I don't know about this problem. If it happens, I will look into this matter".