[Strutting in a Rs. 10 lakh (?) golden Namabali suit in the close proximity of the then US President Barack Obama, was closely followed by the near-complete wash out in Delhi assembly election. (Apparently, the tag - 'Suit Boot ki Sarkar', stuck.) Soon after the persistent, but eventually dropped, attempts to scrap the land acqusition act to favour the state and the moneybags came the resounding defeat in Bihar. (Of course, there was a Mahagathbandhan.)
The astute politician that Modi is, triggered a change of tack - limited in substance but powerful in terms of propaganda blitz. The symbolic milestone being the much derided demonetisation. That put across a pro-poor, anti-rich and anti-corrupt image of Modi - sort of a new, refurbished Modi, pretty much effectively. Quite a few other measure have followed. Loan waiver for (a major section of) UP farmers is just one. Simultaneously, going on the rampage by Gau Rakshaks, Anti-Romeo brigades etc. And the "Nationalist" edge is further sharpened in the aggressive postures vis-a-vis Pakistan, and also China. (The latest claim of "punitive strikes" across the LoC, award for Major Nitin Leetul Gogoi and boycott of BRI forum in China are just three illustrative examples.) All at the same time, rises a menacing surveillance state, under the cover and through the instrument of Aadhhar, even if this chilling dimension remains almost, though not altogether, unnoticed. The latest move, brought in almost surreptitiously, would evidently hit hard the livelihoods of a large number of people and affect the food plates of even far larger number. Quite ironically, the subject gazette notification is done by the Union Environment Ministry, which is otherwise busy dismantling erstwhile existing environmental regulations, almost with gay abandon, in the presumed ineterest of "development".] I/III. http://www.news18.com/news/india/10-points-decoding-centres-countrywide-ban-on-cattle-slaughter-1413389.html 10 Points Decoding Centre's India-wide Ban On Cattle Slaughter News18.com Updated: May 27, 2017, 9:01 AM IST 10 Points Decoding Centre's India-wide Ban On Cattle Slaughter According to the new rules, cattle cannot be brought to an animal market for sale for slaughter. (File photo/Reuters) New Delhi: In a surprise gazette notification, the environment ministry has banned cattle slaughter and introduced restrictions on the sale of cattle to prevent their killing. A gazette notification, titled Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change states that no one can bring cattle to an animal market unless he or she has furnished a written declaration that the cattle will not be sold for the purpose of slaughter. Further, upon sale of cattle, the animal market committee will take an “undertaking” that the animals are for agricultural purposes and not for slaughter. Here are 10 points you need to know to make sense of the debate around it: 1. Rule: Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 2. Primary Act: Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 3. The Rule applies to the whole of India, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir 4. Cattle cannot be brought to an animal market for sale for slaughter. 5. Animal Market consists of: Marketplaces where animals are brought from other places for sale or auction. It includes animal fairs, or areas adjoining a market or a slaughterhouse 6. Cattle as defined: A bovine animal including bulls, bullocks, cows, buffalos, steers, heifers and calves and includes camels 7. All existing animal markets will have to be registered within three months with the District Animal Market Monitoring Committee by making an application to the Committee 8. Cruel and harmful practices have been prohibited for animals including, painting of horns, ear cutting buffaloes, making animals lay on hard ground without proper bedding 9. Purchaser of cattle cannot sell animal for slaughter or sacrifice the animal for religious purposes 10. The rule mandates the appointment of Veterinary inspectors who shall screen the animals before they enter the market. The inspector shall also check whether animals are being transported in trucks which are authorised by law to carry animals. First Published: May 27, 2017, 7:30 AM IST II/III. http://www.news18.com/news/india/environment-ministry-bans-cattle-slaughter-across-india-restrictions-on-sale-too-1413225.html Centre Puts Ban-Like Restrictions On Cattle Slaughter Across India Tushar Dhara, Debayan Roy Updated: May 26, 2017, 6:19 PM IST Centre Puts Ban-Like Restrictions On Cattle Slaughter Across India Representative image New Delhi: In a move aimed at curbing cattle slaughter, the Environment Ministry has banned sale of cattle from marketplaces for the purpose of culling. A gazette notification, titled Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change states that no one can bring cattle to an animal market unless he or she has furnished a written declaration that the cattle will not be sold for the purpose of slaughter. Further, upon sale of cattle, the animal market committee will take an “undertaking” that the animals are for agricultural purposes and not for slaughter. There are questions as to how does the central government effectively prohibit cattle slaughter across India when livestock is a state subject. Officials at the animal market will have to verify that the purchaser of the cattle is a farmer by checking the relevant revenue documents. The gazette notification also states that the purchaser of the cattle will not sell the animal for the purpose of slaughter nor “sacrifice the animal for any religious purpose”. The notification defines “cattle” as bovine animals, including bulls, cows, buffaloes, steers, heifers and calves and camels. Animal market is defined as a “market place or sale-yard or any other premises or place to which animals are brought from other places and exposed for sale or auction and includes any lairage adjoining a market or a slaughterhouse”. The new rules also prohibit the sale of cattle to persons from outside a state, without permission as per the state cattle protection laws. Animal markets have also been prohibited from within 25 km of state borders. Additionally, gaushalas, animal welfare organisations etc, which are giving up cattle for adoption, will have to provide an affidavit that the animals will be used for agricultural purposes and not for slaughter. In the case of draught and pack animals, they will have to give a similar undertaking. There are questions as to how does the central government effectively prohibit cattle slaughter across India when livestock is a state subject. However, these rules which prohibit cattle slaughter are under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and Section 37 and Section 38 of the parent act says that the central government does have the power to introduce such a regulation. Section 37 of the 1960 act is about the delegation of powers where the central government may, by notification in the official gazette, direct that all or any of the powers exercisable by it under this Act, may, subject to such conditions as it may think fit to impose, be also exercisable by any state government. Thereafter, Section 38 gives the central government the power to make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act. It was in January 4, 2017, that there were deliberations on a possible law banning beef and cow slaughter and the Union environment ministry had asked the agriculture ministry to explore the option of enacting a national law to prohibit slaughtering of cow, selling of beef or beef products. However, the Supreme Court in January, this year, while hearing a PIL to ban nationwide cow slaughter declined to entertain it as it was a “state subject”. “One state may ban slaughter, the other may not… we will not interfere in state laws,” the Supreme Court said as it rejected the petition seeking a uniform policy on cow slaughter. The apex court had told petitioner Vineet Sahai that it had already passed orders on measures to stop the illegal inter-state transportation of cattle. First Published: May 26, 2017, 1:34 PM IST III. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/centre-bans-sale-of-cattle-for-slaughter-at-livestock-markets/articleshow/58861631.cms Centre bans sale of cattle for slaughter at livestock markets Vishwa Mohan | TNN | Updated: May 27, 2017, 08.43 AM IST [Video] NEW DELHI: In a move amounting to a virtual ban on slaughter of cattle+ , the Centre on Friday announced strict rules to prohibit sale of animals for slaughter or religious sacrifice at livestock markets and animal fairs that are a common occurrence in rural areas. The animals under purview are cows, bulls, bullocks, buffaloes, steers, heifers, calves and camels. The official reasoning is the order is intended to end uncontrolled and unregulated animal trade. The rules won't apply to goats and sheep, often sacrificed during Id. Apart from the stated objective of curbing unregulated trade, mixing of milch animals with older, less healthy beasts meant for slaughter, the move has political overtones in tune with BJP's pledge to "protect" the cow and its progeny+ . The rules are in line with BJP's emphasis on shutting down illegal slaughterhouses during the UP poll and the views expressed by senior leaders calling for the promotion of "cattle wealth" rather than the meat trade. Meat export organisations have protested the move saying it was sudden and arbitrary and will affect their business+ that is already taking a hit over the actions of BJP governments that have discouraged the trade. Activists welcomed the step taken in the wake of Supreme Court's directions for regulation of livestock markets. "We commend the ministry for their vision and their efforts to protect the most vulnerable animals, be it animals used as reproductive machines for breeding or animals that are cruelly sold off at unregulated markets," said Gauri Maulekhi, trustee at People for Animals (PFA). With the onus being on cattle owners to certify that cattle will not be sold for slaughter or sacrifice, the trade in animals will be more regulated, said officials. The rules will bring in new norms for the functioning of well-known livestock markets or annual cattle fairs like the ones at Sonepur (Bihar) and Pushkar (Rajasthan) or in other states including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Animals for slaughter can now be bought directly from farms — a move expected to ensure traceability and food safety standards and weed out middlemen between farmers and slaughterhouses, and increase the income of farmers who rear such animals for trade. New rules have, however, not banned sale of such animals for agriculture purposes or milk. But it can be done only through regulated livestock markets which will have to adhere to safety standards and certain do's and don'ts to avoid cruelty against the animals. The rules, notified by the ministry of environment, will have to be implemented within three months across the country, including Kerala, which allow cow slaughter. Though the issues relating to cow slaughter come under the 'state' subject in terms of making law and framing the rules, the new central rules are notified under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act of 1960 that gives the Centre power over animal welfare. "The rules intend to promote the concept of 'farm to fork', which revolves around the traceability of food products as they move through the supply chain. Due to the present system of open markets that allow trade of both milch and slaughter animals, and multiple buyers and sellers, it becomes impossible to trace an animal back to its farm of origin", said N G Jayasimha, managing director of the Humane Society International/India, who was part of the drafting committee of the Regulation of Livestock market rules. He said, "The animals being sold for slaughter are generally unfit, making the markets a major hub for the spread of infectious diseases as there are no records and no liability. Cattle suffering from foot & mouth disease or mad cow disease may be sold. So, the idea behind the new rules is to ensure that only healthy animals are traded for agricultural purposes, whereas animals for slaughter must be sourced directly from farms to ensure traceability". The rules also provide for setting up a district-level authority to enforce animal protection laws on the ground, including those against illegal slaughter. As part of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017, it makes a provision of constitution of Animal Market Committee for management of animal markets in the district. The Committee will have to ensure that no person will bring a cattle to an animal market unless upon arrival he has furnished a written declaration signed by the owner of the cattle that "the cattle has not been brought to market for sale for slaughter". The purchaser will have to give an undertaking that he/she will not sell the animal for purpose of slaughter, follow the state cattle protection or preservation laws, not sacrifice the animal for any religious purpose and not sell the cattle to a person outside the state without the permission as per the state cattle protection laws. Under the rules, no animal market will be allowed in a place that is within 25 km from any state border or that is within 50 km from any international border. Besides, unfit animals, pregnant animals, animals who have not been vaccinated and animals under six months of age cannot be displayed or sold at any of the cattle market anywhere in the country. The market committee will have to keep a record of name and address of the purchaser and procure his identity proof. The committee will also have to ensure that the purchaser of the animal gives a declaration that he shall not sell the animal up to six months from the date of purchase and shall abide by the rules relating to transport of animals made under the Act or any other law for the time being in force. Since the rules include buffaloes in their definition of cattle, big traders and exporters will initially feel the heat in procuring the animals for meat. But the regulation of slaughter houses and closure of illegal ones will ultimately bring consistency of supply in the market and ensure food safety standard. India is currently a major buffalo meat exporting country which grew from Rs 3,533 crore in 2007-08 to Rs 26,685 crore in 2015-16. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
