Animals
Animals are also part of the wealth of a nation. They are gifts given to us by God and it is out duty to take proper care of them. Animals have their own uses. The domestic animals like the cow, the horse, the dog and the bullock all are useful to human beings in some way or other. Even wild animals are not without use. They protect the forests from the wanton destruction by some men. But it is often seen that human beings by some men. But it is often seen that human beings are cruel to such animals, the sight of two puny bullocks dragging a cart loaded `sky high’ with hay, or barrels or bags of some grain is quite common on our races. It is also very common and also cruel to see such animals being beaten to make them move faster, especially when they climb up a slope. At such times man in the form of the cart driver forgets that he is dealing with another fellow- creature. His cruelty comes out clearly because he wants to get to his destination and earn his daily wages quickly. He does not feel the suffering of the animals. We also know of how some people who swallow gallons and liters of milk given to them by their domestic cow and how, when it gets old mercilessly sell it to the slaughterer- the butcher. It is a case of a man killing the goose, laying the golden egg. Examples of such cruelty to animals can be given in plenty.
It is to prevent such cruelty to animals that there are organizations like the SPCA but such organizations cannot work effectively because they can only advise people. Rarely can they help to bring such offer ends to book through the courts. There are also Homes for the welfare of animals and hospitals for treatment of sick animals. The government is also trying to prevent the cruelty to animals through suitable measures. But legislation and fear of punishment through the law cannot mend matters. Men must realize that the animals are our fellow creatures. They have their uses; and they must be given the benefit of the ``Ahimsa’’ that Gandhi taught us. It is the man who can really avoid the cruelty and the law.