POLITICS AROUND ANIMALS – IS IT VISION 2050 & MISSION 2019?
PREAMBLE:
Looks like strategies of playing with
caste, creed, community, gender, religion, religious minorities, class etc for
extracting votes and coming to power have come to an end and political parties
are looking for green pastures and innovative strategies. The recent
announcement of ban on sale of cattle and camels for non agricultural purpose may
be one such strategy to divide and consolidate vote banks integrated with
livelihoods and sentiments, revolving around cattle.
ANIMAL RIGHTS & LAWS:
In fact India is blessed with
well defined constitution and lucky to have one of the most comprehensive set
of animal protection laws in the world. Article
51(G) of constitution states that “It shall be the duty of every Indian to
protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers
& wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures”. Keeping the constitutional
provisions in view for functional use we have “prevention of cruelty to animal
act (1960) & Wild life (protection) act, 1972.
With these two acts in force and
subsequent amendments nation reached new heights in animal husbandry- largest
milk producer, second largest beef exporter, leading producer of eggs, fish,
prawns etc and command respect in the field with contribution of Ongole breed
as most sought after and commercially strong beef breed of the world.
IMPACT OF RECENT BAN ON CATTLE SALES:
It is feared that recent ban
imposed on sale of cattle to abattoir/slaughter house is going to have severe
impact on one Lakh crore meat exports business, Livelihoods of twenty million
people whom are living directly or indirectly on this trade, reduction in milk
production, burden on farmer scale of economies, increase in other meat product
prices, nutrition imbalance of certain traditional religious communities as
beef is their cheapest and traditional nutrition source. One will be surprised
to know that there are over 4000 licensed abattoirs in the country through
which beef exports are encouraged.
GOVERNMENT CONTROLS:
Shandies/markets are major sources
of sale of cattle be it for draught power, milch cattle or for slaughter
purpose and it’s the place where the fair price for cattle is decided based on
several factors. As for the ban imposed cattle cannot be sold
to abattoirs and can be sold between farmers for draught or milk production
purpose. Even for these sales, clear proofs, documents, declaration involving revenue
authorities, Veterinary department etc are being imposed. These may lead to scope
for red tapeism and corruption. In fact the present government is elected to
power with promise of less Government with maximum governance and with these types
of actions the reversal is happening.
SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS:
With over 300 million bovine populations
(25% of world bovine population) India has potential to play vital role in
world animal trade. The sex ratio of 28:72 (M: F), it is known fact that male
cattle is killed on birth. In fact the sex ratio is worst in crossbreds &
buffalo breeds – 15:85. When compare to normal sex ratio of 50:50, this is far
low and clearly establishing the fact that so much of natural resources are
being eliminated and wasted due to improper interpretation and implementation of
laws. The present Government can look at the situation and bring in reforms in
the system by encouraging male calf rearing for beef purpose and in no time can
increase Indian beef exports at least threefold.
Instead of looking at opportunities
in the existing situation, by imposing ban and trying to bring in more controls
the Government is making things more complicated and impractical for the
farmers to survive within new ecosystem.
Normally farmers sell milch cattle in shandies for culling after
economic lactation periods are over and in case of drought conditions when
survival is in question farmers liquidate cattle which are getting into abattoirs.
With the present ban & new
conditions in force, farmers cannot sell cattle and will become burden for them
to rear them. In present system farmers sell less milk yielding cattle and
replace them with better milk yielders. With present impositions the
replacements with high yielders may not happen and may hamper milk production.
EXPECTATIONS FROM GOVERNMENT:
It is essential at this juncture
to discuss, debate in various forums about the existing situations,
implications and opportunity losses due to ban on cattle sales, sentiments
involved etc and bring out a comprehensive policy rather than acting in haste
to satisfy certain vested interest groups. Natural farming which is being
promoted in big way needs lot of urine & dung and it is important to
increase our bovine population by surviving young males and also by using crossbreds.
I am shocked to see that certain groups are campaigning that crossbred cattle
dung/urine are not suitable for natural farming. Is there any scientific basis
for it? In fact the crossbred cows eating Indian fodder, grass, feed etc, will
produce desi dung & urine, not the videsi stuff. These types of unscientific approaches are to
be put to an end and move forward in progressive direction.
If the Government is serious
about implementing the decision, it has to have full preparedness of buying non
tradable cattle from farmers and maintain them in Goshalas or such facilities.
The livelihoods of people living in this trade have to be provided with alternative
opportunities.
We hope Government will look into
the decision in more objectively and work for the overall interest of the
farmers, other stake holders and nation rather than just falling for sentiments.
OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE, SUSTAIN AND MULTIPLY WILL NEVER BE LOST AND
SUFFER.
B Guruva Reddy-9866889246
grbonthu@gmail.com
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