Suggestion to allow export of beef reversed

NAGPUR: In a victory for bodies working for cow protection, the Planning Commission has withdrawn the controversial recommendation by a working group on animal husbandry and dairying for the 12th Five Year Plan to lift ban on beef exports from India. 

In November 2011, the working group chaired by VK Taneja, vice-chancellor of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Science University, Ludhiana, and experts, scientists, NGOs, senior government functionaries and other stakeholders, had recommended allowing beef exports by revising the EXIM policy. 

TOI reported about this on February 23, leading to protests by United Nations (UN) affiliated International Organisation for Animal Protection (OIPA) in India along with People for Animals (PFA), Haryana, which was the first to petition the Planning Commission to withdraw the recommendation. 

"If accepted, the decision could have led to large-scale slaughter of cows," said Naresh Kadyan, India's OIPA representative. 

Kannubhai Savadia, founder of Sukrut Nirman Charitable Trust, Nagpur, too had registered his strong protest with the plan panel. Buckling under pressure from activists, on March 16, the Planning Commission has admitted the recommendation was an inadvertent clerical mistake and it should be considered as deleted. "The necessary change has been made to the report," the plan panel said. 

It added, "The issue involves cultural sensitivity of millions of people. Hence, it cannot be viewed purely on a 'commodity mode'. The Planning Commission has no intention of making any recommendation to change the present position." 

"So far as trade in beef is concerned, it is well known that there is a ban on beef exports for decades along with ban on beef imports. It's a wise move," said Sukanya Kadyan, OIPA's event director in India. 

Based on the TOI report, media adviser of OIPA Abhishek Kadyan had on February 27 filed a protest petition with Surinder Singh, adviser, Planning Commission, demanding scrapping of the recommendation to lift ban on beef export. "The cow, among the most sacred of animals, is looked upon as a 'motherly figure'. She bestows wealth, strength, abundance, selfless-giving and spiritual bliss. Such recommendations have hurt our sentiments," said Savadia. 

Savadia, who is also honorary animal welfare officer of the committee appointed by the Mumbai high court, said that in the light of Supreme Court directives, the ministry of commerce and industry in 2007 had categorically denied requirement of change in EXIM policy which permits only export of buffalo meat. 

Moolchand Sharma, in charge of BJP's Kisan Cell in Himachal Pradesh, and Dr SK Mittal, BJP's gau-convener in Karnataka, both hailed TOI's role in highlighting the biggest flaw in the working group report. 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Suggestion-to-allow-export-of-beef-reversed/articleshow/12373459.cms 

NGOs slam report to plan panel on allowing beef exports

NAGPUR: The United Nations (UN) affiliated International Organisation for Animal Protection (OIPA) in India along with People for Animals (PFA) and NGOs working for animal welfare have slammed the working group report on animal husbandry and dairying for the 12th Five Year Plan, which includes recommendations to lift a ban on beef exports from India.

The working group on animal husbandry and dairying (2012-17) recently submitted a report to the Planning Commission on present performance of livestock sector and its contributing factors including development programmes and policies pursued in the recent past. It suggested a road map for achieving the targeted rate of growth during the 12th plan while ensuring its sustainability and inclusiveness.

Sukanya Kadyan, OIPA's event director in India, flayed the recommendation in the report which says, "There is an existing ban on beef exports. Therefore, it is necessary to revise the EXIM policy to allow beef exports."

The OIPA and even local NGOs like Sukrut Nirman Charitable Trust and People for Animals (PFA), Nagpur, have demanded the report be withdrawn and government should apologize to the nation before 'religious and nationalist people' pour out into the streets in protest.

"Export of beef will not only butcher cows but will also amount to murder of the Constitution and dharma, on which country's foundation has been based," said Naresh Kadyan, India's OIPA representative. The report was more inclined to slaughtering animals rather than protecting them. The matter has been taken up with the President and plan panel, he added.

Quoting directive principles under Article 48 of the Constitution, Kadyan said these clearly prohibit slaughter of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle. "We cannot tolerate slaughter of cows or its family at any cost," he remarked.

Kannubhai Savadia, chairman of Sukrut, said his NGO has been sending representations to the Planning Commission for the past four years against meat exports, but strong lobby of traders backed by politicians appears to have prevailed upon the government. Meat exports were basically to boost foreign exchange but now that the country has sufficient forex reserves, why promote such exports, Savadia asked.

"Allowing beef export would lead to massive slaughter of cows, which is already being carried out clandestinely. Our agriculture ministry is supposed to protect and promote cows instead of slaughtering them," Savadia added.

"The government should stop playing with the religious sentiments of the people. The recommendation exposes double standards. On one hand, cows are revered and students are taught about its importance and protection, while on the other promotion of beef exports is spoken about," said Karishma Galani, city chief of PFA.

Allowing beef exports would lead to farm and food crisis. As per the cattle census conducted in 2007, cattle population has already dwindled. "So why is a need being felt to promote beef exports?" Galani asked.

VHP protests working group suggestion to lift ban on beef exports

NEW DELHI: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has objected to the working group report on animal husbandry and dairying for the 12th five-year plan, which includes recommendations to lift the ban on beef exports from India.

VHP has demanded that the government withdraw its report to the Planning Commission and apologize to the nation before "religious and nationalist people" came out on the streets in protest.

"Export of beef will not only butcher our mother and its family but it will amount to a murder of the Constitution and dharma of the country," VHP's international organising secretary Dinesh Chandra said in a statement on Tuesday.

The animal husbandry and dairying department under the agriculture ministry sent a report to the Planning Commission recommending lifting the ban on beef exports. "There is an existing ban on beef exports; therefore it is necessary to revise the exim policy to allow beef exports," VHP media chief Vinod Bansal quoted from the report. This report was more inclined to slaughtering of animals rather then protecting them, he added.

Quoting directive principals under Article 48 of the Constitution, Chandra said, "These directives clearly prohibit the slaughter of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle. We cannot tolerate slaughter of cows or its family at any cost. Our agriculture ministry is supposed to protect and promote cows instead of slaughtering it."

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-08/india/31037000_1_beef-exports-vhp-protests-vishwa-hindu-parishad