An environment ministry notification, banning trade of cattle for slaughter in animal markets, has evoked strong reaction from farm unions, who believe that income of farmers will be affected and their
fundamental rights violated if they are not allowed to bring their spent cattle to the animal market.
The Centre, on May 23, had issued the notification, banning sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter—a move that is expected to hit export and trade of meat and leather.
The environment ministry had notified the stringent 'Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017' under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
The notification prohibits sale of cattle at animal markets nationwide, including in states like Kerala and West Bengal where cow slaughter is allowed by the state government.
Cattle, as per the ministry of environment and forest notification, are defined as “bulls, bullocks, cows, buffaloes, steers, heifers and calves and camels”.
The rules state that “no person shall bring cattle to an animal market”, unless a written declaration is furnished by both the seller and buyer saying the cattle has not been brought to market for sale for slaughter.
The notification also makes it mandatory to provide details of owner and details of the identification of the cattle. It further states that authorities in charge of animal markets would need to give an undertaking from purchasers that the animals were traded only for agriculture purpose and not for slaughter.
Reselling of a traded animal is also prohibited for a period of six months according to the government notification. Authorities would be required to keep a record of animal purchasers, including their ID proof, and also verify that the purchaser is in agricultural profession.
The rules also specify that the purchaser shall not sacrifice the animal for any religious purposes or sell it to a person outside the state without permission.
Reacting to the notification, the CPI-backed All India Kisan Sabha, has staged a demonstration protesting the notification in the Parliament's ongoing monsoon session.
"Centre must compensate farmers if they are not being allowed to sell their spent farm animals," said Atul Anjaan, general secretary, All India Kisan Sabha.
"Any move in Parliament to make these rules prohibiting cattle trade and movement a permanent feature will be resisted by all farmers' unions," said Anjaan.
The monsoon session of Parliament had begun on Monday. On Tuesday, alongside All India Kisan Sabha, other farmers' unions were seen bringing their protests to Jantar Mantar, just outside Parliament.
"The larger issue of improving farmers' income is becoming more and more difficult with every new move of this government. We are protesting the fact that very little effort was taken to achieve the prime minister's own goal of doubling farmer's income by 2020," said Yogendra Yadav, who has launched an Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Samnway (co-ordination) Samiti.
Farmers from Tamil Nadu were also seen protesting in Jantar Mantar, demanding support to buy farm inputs this year, after facing prolonged impact of drought in the last two crop years.
