Editor,
Apropos the lead story in The Shillong Times (ST June 13, 2017) regarding the Meghalaya Government’s Resolution tabled in the House for immediate withdrawal of the central notification G.S.R. 494(E) Dated 23rd May,2017 (bovine slaughter ban), I wish to state that though the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly was unanimous in adopting the resolution to be sent to the Government of India, I am not sure what the Central Government will do on receipt of the Resolution. I only hope that the Resolution is taken kindly. In fact, the Central Draft Rules were intentionally placed in the GoI website for over a month in order to solicit views, opinions and suggestions from the public as well as from the state governments. I don’t know if anyone from Meghalaya or whether the Government of Meghalaya have sent in their opinions and suggestions on the draft Rules. If they have not done so because of ignorance then why the hullaballoo? Ignorance is not bliss. However, if they wish to, they can still send their opinions and views but it is not certain what the government of India will do with those views and suggestions. I presume the Centre might have a second look by modifying the notified Rules.
The best and immediate course of action for the Meghalaya Government to do, if it is deadly against the notified Rules by the GoI, is to challenge the validity of the Notification in a court of law. This is simply common sense. Perhaps by now, the court order would have been out much before the tabling of the resolution. Meghalaya Government has its own legal advisers and attorneys. Where are they? Why not seek their advice? Does the government doubt their capability? Be that as it may, the people of Meghalaya and the Government need not be alarmed at the notification for its implementation rests with the State Government. The fact of the matter is that the present Government is alarmed, because elections are round the corner and they see this notification as the ideal bait to fish the majority beef eaters of the state.
Again, nowhere has the resolution mentioned that 90 per cent of the cows bought by Meghalaya from other states of India are daily smuggled (illegally exported) to Bangladesh purely for slaughtering and for consumption as well as for exporting outside that country. In fact, none from the ruling and the opposition benches made any mention of it, not to speak of raising a debate on the gravity of continuous cow smuggling from Meghalaya into Bangladesh. The Principal Act as well as the notified Rules speak clearly against it. I wonder, if smuggling comes under the powers of the states and if the State of Meghalaya finds it hard to reveal the facts happening on the ground.
The Principal Act on Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 1960 and the Rules notified recently, clearly stipulate that cattle and especially the bovine stocks (livestocks) should be taken care of and their health and well being ensured. But till date, no one, not even the Government of Meghalaya, is able to ensure this aspect. Cattle are left at the mercy of the rearers and owners. Even in the selection of beneficiaries for giving schemes for cattle rearing, the process is in shambles and not transparent at all. It is riddled with partiality. Assistance should be liberal but there is no encouragement from the department concerned to increase livestock production especially when the demand for meat, milk and other products far outweighs the supply. The Livestock Mission has no meaning at all if the attitude and the style of functioning of the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department cannot be overhauled and changed drastically. This Department should be accorded top priority (as it falls under the primary sector). It should also be allocated adequate funds.
Furthermore, I strongly question the statistics touted by the Government that the demand for beef in Meghalaya is only 23,634 MT per year and that about 11,000 MT have to be imported from outside. This statistics is supplied by armchair babus of the veterinary department. No realistic and authentic surveys were conducted by other independent bodies, NGOs or other agencies so far in this regard. Most of the statistics on animals, crops, fish etc quoted in government documents including the Budget, are mere guessing games by bureaucrats. No genuine, painful and credible attempts have been made so far by them to ensure correctness of statistics. If statistics are wrong then the whole planning goes haywire.
Yours etc.,
Philip Marwein,
Via email
Wanted a referendum on railways!
Editor,
For too long the opposition for setting up a rail-head at Byrnihat has been going on. Wanton violent activities in this age is uncalled for and why should the KSU and its fringe elements resort to such behavior? Isn’t there a way out to negotiate and arrive at an agreed settlement? We are living in the 21st century and not the Middle Ages. Today globalisation has impacted all our lives. The need for the rail-head up to Byrnihat for goods trains should be taken as a positive sign rather than opposing it. It is a hypocrisy of sorts that some people just “love” to compare our state with others whereas when it comes to action, they act differently. Pressure groups are seen as alternative “weapons” to further a cause which is why a section of the business community remains divided on this issue and so elements like the KSU come in handy to be used as tools. The HNLC has seized this opportunity and threatened to use IEDs. This is fraught with danger and the HNLC should not compare the issues of Kashmir to that of Meghalaya. Such comparisons are odious. Perhaps the state government can hold a referendum to see how many support the rail-head and how many oppose it. Only then will a clear picture emerge whether people want a railhead up to Byrnihat.
Yours etc…
Dominic S. Wankhar
Shillong