Cows for the Cause of a Clean India

The cow, its admirers claim, is a rich source of many a wondrous gift. Last month, a BJP Member of Parliament, Nand Kumar Sai, claimed that cow urine mixed with neem leaves can be sold as an insecticide. Now, a new use for cow urine is being proposed— as a household cleanser.

The Holy Cow Foundation, a charity that looks after cows found roaming the streets in India, has developed a floor sanitiser derived from cow urine. Marketed as Gaunyle to replace the popular floor cleanser phenyl, the fluid has apparently been treated and distilled, and is one of many cow items that the charity is currently in the process of developing. Other products in the pipeline include soaps, medicines and a soft-drink.

Anuradha Modi, founder of the Holy Cow Foundation, claims that initially when Gaunyle was being developed it had a strong smell which would have been a deterrent for users. The Foundation, thus, distilled the urine and added natural ingredients like pine oil to mask the odour. According to her, the new cleanser has been tested in labs and found to be superior than products like phenyl, which she claims is laced with chemicals. She is now reportedly looking at a deal with the Government to supply the product for use in offices. She told AFP: “We want to create a market for cow urine and I can say supply won’t be a problem.”

Jagdish Bhatia, head of Kendriya Bhandar, a chain of cooperative stores supplying housekeeping products to government offices, says that Gaunyle is great for the health of cleaners, apart from also being beneficial to cows. According to him, at least Rs 20 lakh is spent on cleaning government offices in New Delhi. Gaunyle, Bhatia reasons, will not only cut costs, but its sales proceeds would be used for the maintenance of gaushaalas (cowsheds) across the country. The fluid will be sourced from cowsheds in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.

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