Minimum Cow Protection Standards

[Guest guest]

At 6:56 -0800 11/22/99, COM: Madhava Gosh (das) ACBSP (New Vrindavan - USA)

wrote:

>

>This guidelines have already been approved by the GBC, the problem is one of

>implementation. The theory behing the Minimum Cow Standards were that any

>reasonably intelligent person could read them and then assess what was

>happening at a particular project, even if they don't have an extensive

>farm background.

 

Good timing: Today we all got a copy of those standards again. They

deserve to be re-posted frequently. Seems like the quarterly visits are the

key to the success of this program. However, somehow I seem to remember

that even that has not been done. Did the ministry compile a report on

which projects had and had not been visited this year? (I'm sorry if

you've already stated this)

 

Is there anything us regular devotees can do to help, besides visiting

projects? How about if we ask our local GBCs every time we see them if

they've made their visits as pledged (assuming they had made such pledges).

I hate to say it, but it's the squeeky wheel that gets the grease and if

our leaders know that rank-and-file devotees are concerned and consider

this a priority, maybe they'll become more likely to do the same?

 

Ys,

Madhusudani dasi

 

 

Minimum Cow Protection Standards (ISKCON Law 507)

Standard 14, LOCAL GBC RESPONSIBILITY

 

XIV LOCAL GBC RESPONSIBILITY

Recommended

1) The GBC Should Quarterly

a) Meet with cowherds and ox teamsters. This meeting should be a minimum of

1 hour and private.

b) Visit every cow facility and traveling program and review records. (See

Standard 1)

c) Present written reports to the Ministry of Cow Protection and

Agriculture. (Report forms will be provided to the GBC)

2) Investigation of Abuses

When a GBC receives reports of cow abuse in his/her locale, the complaint

must be investigated by the GBC and if found true, the situation must be

corrected by consultation with local Farm Council and the Ministry.

3) Follow-up by Investigation Team.

Where no action has been initiated after one week following investigation or

if the Ministry deems the action insufficient, the Ministry will appoint an

investigation team to create a report specifying actions needed to correct

the situation.

4) ISKCON's Ministry of Justice Involvement.

If corrections are not initiated within one month following the initial

abuse report, the problem will be referred to ISKCON's Ministry of Justice

for further action to protect the cows.

 

Permitted

1) Monitor Appointed Substitute.

The GBC may appoint a monitor to represent him in investigating cow abuse in

relation to these standards and to fulfill his quarterly meetings and

reports. The GBC must personally make 1 private one hour visitation to the

cowherds annually and in addition visit the cow facilities annually, the

monitor fulfilling all other duties.

2) Selection of Monitor.

The monitor may be chosen from the Local Farm Council (the intent being he

is knowledgeable in agricultural practices) or come from outside the

community chosen because of nonagricultural reasons) and to be chosen at the

GBC's discretion.

3) Response to Abuses

Permitted standards are the same as recommended standards #2,3,4 above.

 

Not Allowed

Failure to meet even permitted standards.

 

Compliance with this Law will begin to help put in place measures to prevent

cow abuse.

 

For copies of Standards and Report forms please contact, iscowp (AT) ovnet (DOT) com .