Pune: In drought-hit Beed, one villager cares for 125 cattle

PUNE: Shabbir Sayyad of Dahiwandi village was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, for his contribution to the welfare of cows.
President Ram Nath Kovind presented the award to him on Saturday at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
“It’s been four days since I saw my cows. I can’t stay away from them even for a day,” he said. Sayyad’s village is in the drought-hit Beed district of Marathwada region.But the vagaries of nature have barely come in his way of pursuing his love for the welfare and upkeep of cows.
“I have always been with my cows. I’ve never been separated from them. For the last four days, I was in Delhi to attend the function. But I was worried about my cows. The situation is worse back home. There isn’t enough fodder for them,” Sayyed told TOI on Sunday in Pune.
The city-based Niranjan Seva Bhavi Sanstha (NSBS), which has been helping Sayyed and his cause for the past few decades by supplying fodder, felicitated him at Patrakar Sangh here at Navi Peth.
Shabbir has been caring for a cattle herd of approximately 125 for more than three decades. “I have not done anything big. I am just continuing my father’s legacy. He dreamt of saving cattle. I am proud that my son is also carrying the work forward. People should not judge someone by his caste, creed or religion. What is important is his or her achievements and contribution to the people. After declaration of the award, several influential people from all walks of life met me and praised my work. This is testimony to the fact that people do respect you if you do good work for the country,” Sayyed said.
Talking about the challenges he faces, Sayyed, said, “Every year there is shortage of fodder and water. This year, the government is supplying water and I hope it will continue till monsoon. Occasionally, people had helped but that was not enough. Also, we cannot take our cattle to the government’s food camp owing to management issue. Ten members of my family are taking care of them. The NSBS has helped us immensely for the last few decades. It has provided fodder and addressed many issues successfully.”
Sayyad’s elder son Yusuf said that this year’s drought is more severe than the previous ones.
“We have never faced shortage of fodder in March. But this year, we are travelling a few kilometres everyday in search of fodder. We hope the government will understand this issue and do the needful to address it,” Yusuf said.