The Silicon Review ^Asia

Hundreds of scientists have asked the Indian government to withdraw the call for research proposals on the uniqueness of indigenous cows and the curative properties of cow urine, dung and milk for potential cancer treatments. In an open letter from the researchers, they say that the call is ‘unscientific’ and a misdirection of public money at a time when India is already facing a financial crunch.

In their letter, scientists note that the call presumes “special physiological status to select breeds of only one species,” adding that “to begin a project with such presumptions is prima facie unscientific.” Money under the scheme could be “wasted to ‘investigate’ imaginary qualities derived from religious scriptures,” they said.

The call for proposals issued 14^th February, 2020, is a part of a funding program of the Department of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and homeopathy. The proposal invites for projects on 5 research themes including ‘cowpathy’, the use of cow derived products for medicine and health.  A major aim is the “scientific investigation of uniqueness of pure Indigenous Indian cows.”

This is not the first time that the government has promoted researches on cows or made scientific claims for unproven traditional beliefs.