German national, Friederike Irina Bruning was awarded the Padma Shri for cow protection this year.

AGRA: A German national, Friederike Irina Bruning (61), who was awarded the Padma Shri for cow protection this year, has threatened to return her reward after her application for visa extension for further stay in India has been rejected by the MEA.

Talking to TOI, she said, “What is the point of keeping this award when I cannot stay here and continue my work for the protection of sick cows”. She said that she had applied for extension of her Visa, but the same was rejected by MEA’s Lucknow office and no reason was given by them. She said that her visa is due to expire on June 25.

"I will be contacting local officials in Mathura to know what should be done next," said Bruning aka Sudevi Dasi , adding that she will be utterly disappointed to return her award but she will have no option if her visa extension is denied.

On being asked about the fate of the cows and calves in her Gaushala, if she has to return to Germany, Sudevi said, “I have no clue. I don’t know who will take care of them after I leave. I’m specially worried about the cows who are unwell and are surviving on medical aid provided by me”. She said that she was completely shocked after her visa extension was denied.

Far from public glare, in a dingy and deserted lane of the the temple town, Sudevi, tends to over 1,800 cows and calves. She had been doing it for the last 25 years. Most of the animals in the cowshed were rescued after being abandoned by their owners.

"There are about 60 workers at the cowshed, and around Rs 35 lakh is spent every month on their salaries, food grains and medicines,” she claimed, adding that she gets Rs 6-7 lakh per month from inherited property.

Bruning had started the cowshed in a small courtyard and then had built a bigger one, Surabhi Gaushala Niketan , in Radhakund. She had also built separate enclosures for bovines that are blind or injured and need special treatment.

