For Yadav, and hundreds of others like him in Vadodara and neighbouring districts in the milk belt, oxytocin is a godsend. Never mind that such use of it is banned, never mind that the injection is painful, never mind even that frequent use of it is harmful to the animal.

So, for all Ashok Bhatt's proclamations in New Delhi over the weekend, oxytocin is alive and kicking in Gujarat, available without a prescription at the local chemist's. State Food and Drugs Controller S P Adesara, however, claimed in conversation with Express Newsline that ``nowhere in Gujarat is this injection available without a prescription.''

And when Bhatt, who was in Vadodara on Monday, was told the injection was easily available in the city, he said, ``You give me specific information, I will do something.''

That, however, is indicative of the situation: The authorities are unaware of ground realities and efforts, if any, at creating awareness of the problem have not had any impact at the grassroots level. Farmers and cowherds this reporter spoke to were unaware that there was anything wrong. P V Bhojak, Additional Director, Animal Husbandry Department, at Vadodara, said, ``We repeatedly explain to them but it appears they don't understand.''

However, the health department has registered cases against three wholesale dealers who were unauthorisedly selling banned oxytocin hormone injections to cattle owners in Gujarat, to raise milk yield. Ashok Bhatt said one dealer, Pankaj Velani of Patan, had been arrested so far by the Mehsana police and police teams were yet to return from Gurgaon and Patna with the owners of four companies who were supplying the injections to the dealers elsewhere in the country.

Two others against whom the health department has registered cases include Rajesh Shah of Sarkhej and Pravin Patel of Ahmedabad.

Bhatt said the department had stopped carrying out searches and raids in the state as all the illegal dealers had gone underground, but it had unearthed a major network of illegal supply of ampoules in Kheda, Anand, Vadodara, Surat districts and Saurashtra.

Assistant commissioner of Food and Drugs Controller Administration, Ahmedabad D T Brahmbhatt said investigation of all seven cases was over on Monday and a first information report with police would be registered against them in Mehsana. Asked if he contemplated a state-wide drive, besides a few places raided, Bhatt said, ``our vigil is on.''

The prescribed use of oxytocin is as a uterine stimulant, to contract the uterus and facilitate delivering of a baby, said Bhojak. However, it has long been used to milk animals. When injected, oxytocin secretes a hormone called relaxin which enables milk to be released, he explains.

However, the frequent use of oxytocin causes the inner wall of the uterus to lose its hold over the fertilised embryo. Later, it affects the process of conception and could even prove harmful to the smooth muscles of the animal. ``After all, it is a hormone, and you cannot go on injecting it in any living being,'' he says.