Rearing roosters for cockfight costs lakhs but pays dividend in crores

Cockfight is a sport where blood flows freely and, those who organize this sport in rural Andhra Pradesh spend lakhs of rupees to rear and feed each bird in preparation of the bloody sport. Even though it is illegal, it is a mega sport in the countryside during Sankranti with stakes running into hundreds of crores of rupees.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 11 January 2016.

It may be of interest to note that a rooster weighing four to five kgs costs Rs 4 lakh, and many feel it to be a good investment because returns can be many more times its value.
The West Godavari district, known for its prime aquaculture ponds and lush green agricultural fields, leads the cockfight 'industry' - and people spending about Rs 200 crore on betting. Neighboring districts of Krishna and Guntur are in the second slot in the betting hierarchy.
In view of the huge amount of money involved, the organizers go all out to keep the roosters ready. Their meals consist of almonds, cashews and minced mutton (kheema). Moreover, the birds are administered muscle-building hormones and antibiotics. Thereby, they can withstand injuries during the fight.
Cockfighting is prohibited under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the Andhra Pradesh Gaming Act, 1974 and bird lovers oppose these events as thousands of roosters die in the sport but, cockfight enthusiasts describe as a "traditional sport".

(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Ganga clean up mission – 108 dead bodies accumulate in the waters of the River Ganges in Unnao in just 3 months

#GangaActionPlan #Unnao #NarendraModi #GangaBachao Reports indicate that 108 dead bodies are found flowing down the Ganga. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced top priority to clean up the River Ganges or Ganga but, given the mindset and superstitious beliefs of Indians, the task would be a really difficult one.
The incident in the Pariyar Ghat in Unnao, UP, has shocked everyone and, it is understood from district officials that these are bodies of people who have been victims of some epidemic. The dead bodies are being scavenged by stray dogs and birds.
The worst part is that the bodies had been piling up at the spot over the last three months and threats are posed to those who are residing in nearby areas. The fears of water contamination is very much real and, since the Sankranti festival is a few days away, people would go to the River to take bath.
River Ganges carries the tag of Holy River and, hence, a section of people believe that victims of unnatural deaths should get a final resting place in the waters of the Ganga.
There had been the Ganga Action Plan of the previous governments earlier and crores of rupees had, supposedly, been spent to clean up the waters. The Modi government has modified it and created the Ganga Bachao andolan and Prime Minister Modi has given an additional phillip to the project by adopting the city of Varanasi on the banks of the river. Plenty of ambitious plans have been drawn up to give a new look to the River Ganges. But – from the looks of it, it is going to be an uphill and nearly impossible task.