BANGALORE: An ox pulls a cart laden with heavy weight. Though he’s a beast, he is scrawny and malnourished. He bears the scars of constant whip-lashes and wounds that he has collected while faithfully serving his master. This is the usual plight of the beast of burden in our country.Sandesh Raju, a French translator decided to take the matter into his hands. While he was in Hyderabad studying for his masters degree, he was also part of the Blue Cross, an animal welfare organisation.“Then I used to rescue small animals. I have been a part of animal welfare organisations for 10 years now.After coming back to the city I decided that I need to do something for the welfare of these animals. In August 2010, I started Samabhava,” said Raju.Samabhava works for the protection, well-being and welfare of animals, as well as creating awareness among people regarding the rights of animals to live in peace, health and dignity. Along with Raju, there are three other trustees and a part-time doctor. These men treat the animals free of cost. “As far as the funds for the treatment are concerned, we do not have any proper plan in place. It has been just sheer good luck that every time our funds start dipping, someone makes a donation,” he informed. Raju works as a freelance French translator.A portion of his salary goes to Samabhava.The organisation is split into two wings — animal welfare and human education and awareness. While the former has taken Raju and his team to places as far as Ramnagara to treat the animals, the latter has seen them go to colleges in Bangalore to spread awareness among the young minds. “Last Saturday we got a call from Ramnagara. A pony had been in an accident that resulted in a compound fracture on one of his limbs.Since there was no way that we could help him, we had to resort to euthanasia,” he revealed.Raju has no infrastructure or a shelter to keep or treat the animals. Since the conception of the organisation, Raju and his team make field visits every Sunday. They have been doing this for 40 such Sundays.“I take my father’s car to transport the medicines and visit the animals. We do not visit the animal in their commercial place of work.Instead, we go to their resting place to check and treat them,” he said.The team works along with the caretakers to educate them on matters such as health and welfare of the animals. “Dehydration and lameness are some of the most common cases that we have encountered.Very often the caretakers do not give adequate water to the animals, resulting in dehydration. Maintenance of the cart is another very important issue. Along with looking after the animal, the owner also has to take care of his cart. If the cart is in a poor condition, it could lead to lameness of the animal.Also, the animal should be put to work only after a certain age,” he explained.Raju feels that the day he and his team will be out of work, will be the day when he would have accomplished his goals. Talking about the importance of the same, he said, “That will be the day when all the caretakers will be well informed and hence the number of injuries to the animal will be greatly reduced. It is of utmost importance that the owners look after their beasts, for they are their source of livelihood.”
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