Cattle Trade Rules: Farmers’ body urges CMs to protect livelihood of farmers

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AIKS has appealed to all farmers’ organizations to unite for countrywide struggle against the notification of the central government on cattle trade

IndiaTomorrow.net
New Delhi, June 13: Expressing deep concern on the likely devastation of the rural economy due to the center’s new cattle trade rules, country’s leading organization of farmers has urged Chief Ministers of all states to come forward to protect the livelihood of farmers.

The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has demanded all political parties to clear their stand on the issue of cattle trade ban for slaughtering.

“The NDA Government’s ban on cattle trade for the purpose of slaughter including cow, bull and buffalo if implemented will affect the agrarian economy very severely and intensify the agrarian distress and peasant suicides. The cattle are the wealth of the farmers and notification of the Central Government will make the cattle worthless,” said AIKS.

On 23rd May, the Union Ministry of Environment had issued a notification – Prevention of Cruelty to Animal (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules 2017, saying its aim is to regulate animal market and prevent cruelty. As per the new rules, cattle that include bulls, bullocks, cows, buffalos, steers, heifers, calves and camels, can’t be purchased or sold from any livestock market across the country for the purpose of slaughtering.

Cattle traders and dairy farmers have been opposing it as it has posed a jeopardous situation for their livelihood.

It also makes necessary for buyers to declare that he/she is not buying the cattle for slaughtering. It is also stated that the buyer can’t sell the cattle within six months after the date of purchase.

The new rules have been notified under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960.

“There is no law in any of the Indian State that bans the slaughter of buffalo. Then how could the Central government frame rule to ban trade of buffalo for slaughter purpose? The market price of buffalo for meat purpose ranges from Rs 15000/ to Rs 40000 and due to the ban the farmers will lose this income. The Prime Minister who promised to double the income of farmers by the year 2022 is silent on who will compensate the farmers,” AIKS said.

Some states are opposing cattle trade rules

As soon as the new cattle trade rules were notified, some state governments have opposed it. They include Kerala, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Tripura and Punjab.

Opposing the notification, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had called a special session of the Kerala Assembly on 8th June and the assembly adopted a resolution demanding the central government to withdraw the rules.

Chief Ministers of West Bengal and Tripura, Mamata Banerjee and Manik Sarkar respectively have declared that the new rules will not be implemented in their states.

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has also stated the central notification as ‘anti farmer’ and assured people to take all measures to ensure the dairy farmers of Punjab will not be hit by the new rules.

The Meghalaya Assembly on Monday (12th June) adopted a resolution urging the center to withdraw the new rule on cattle trade for slaughter so as to maintain the constitution’s federal and secular character.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said that the new rules would severely hamper the socio-economic, cultural and religious rights of the people of the state.

States banning slaughter must purchase cattle on market price

AIKS has demanded those State Governments which do not want to allow slaughter of any animal whether cow, bull or buffalo they might amend animal protection act in the respective state with the proviso that the state governments shall purchase cattle by giving market rate to farmers and maintain them including stray cattle in cow shelters.

Call to unite farmers’ organizations

AIKS has appealed to all farmers’ organizations to unite for countrywide struggle against the notification of the central government on cattle trade.

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