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GUJARAT, INDIA, May 11, 2003: Wells in north Gujarat have run dry but there is one cattle camp in Surendranagar district with nearly 30,000 cattle still in operation. Veja Bhagat, who has been running the place for over 30 years has to buy 50 tankers of water a day, 600 kilos of bajra and 180 tons of dry grass, which add up to a daily expense of US$9,500. As a result he’s $63,615 in debt. “I don’t have any wealth. I took loans, borrowed money and mortgaged land to run this place,” he said. The money for his camp also comes from donations from all over the state. Despite the huge debt, Veja Bhagat says he will never shut the camp. “Any man would beg, borrow to run his home. These animals cannot speak for themselves. I will do anything for them,” he says. His huge kitchen employs 100 people and feeds any cattle that walk in. While cattle in many parts of Gujarat are dying of starvation, this is one place where people come to ensure they can survive another year of drought.
