New Delhi: Cosmetics and toiletries produced from cow's excreta like dung and urine in a Kanpur factory are becoming popular even in the national Capital. The products manufactured by the Kanpur Goshala Samiti are detergents, shampoo, oil and medicines. The factory is 15 km outside Kanpur and has an in-house laboratory, where the products are tested, and they also manufacture and package all their products in-house. The products are based on panchgavya, manufactured from a combination of milk, curd, ghee, urine and dung — the five bovine contributions, clubbed together.

     "After testing the raw material for different parameters like Ph level and all we accept them for using them in medicinal products. We culture the elements extracted from cow dung and urine and then re-culture them for refining .This helps in enhancing the inherent powers of dung and urine. Only then we use them in the production of medicines," said Ranjit Singh, laboratory in charge, Kanpur Goshala. This is mixed with other ingredients like sandalwood and coconut oil, in differing ratios, to yield a variety of products ranging from fertilisers and insecticides to toothpaste, hair oil, porridge. "The best thing is that the ingredients of these medicines are entirely natural. So they don't have any side-effects. We are getting good results," said Vaidramanjum mia, in charge, Kanpur Goshala. "They have made these products, going back into the history of India. Something with the heritage or aesthetic value of you can say these belong to our culture. They brought these to us and we accepted, its a good idea," said a promoter.

     The promoters are trying to highlight the fact that the products are relatively cheaper .The cow-urine based phenyl that claims to kill mosquitoes, cockroaches and other pests costs only Rs 20; there is Mukta, a cow dung-based dish-cleaner for Rs 10; a panchgavya sandal soap for Rs 12; a Goratna aftershave for Rs 20, and the list goes on.
May 4, 2005