Shreyas H S
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Apr 27: With a sharp decline of 36 percent in the cattle population in the coastal district, according to the last survey conducted in the year 2012, the right-wing thinkers believe the role of cattle trafficking and licensed slaughtering is a key factor for the gradual decrease in the population of cattle.
However, a holistic approach to the issue reveals that there are other prime reasons for the drastic decline in the population, and that the impact of cattle trafficking and licensed slaughtering over the years has in fact been only marginal.
According to the current data available with the district animal husbandry department, the population of cattle stands at 2,54,507 (as per 2012 survey), as against 3,96,609 in 2007 (previous survey). The population of buffaloes alone has hit the highest slump, witnessing a 76 percent decline. In the year 2007 there were as many as 15,000 buffaloes, but in 2012, figure has drastically decreased to a mere 3,570.
"A large number of cattle were illegally transported, sometimes intentionally to hurt the sentiments of the majority community that has been demanding a ban on cattle meat," says Bajrang Dal leader Sharan Pumpwell. According to him, apart from the MCC-owned licensed slaughter house of DK located at Kudroli, there are other abattoirs illegally run by minorities where cattle are allegedly slaughtered. The data available with one of the goshala (cattle care center) Nandagokula located at Kalladka, which is being looked after by convener of the goshala Jitendra Kottari, shows that the average number of cattle illegally transported falls around 100 to 150 per year.
However, according to Dinesh Kini, who holds the designation of 'Go Raksha Pramukh' in Bajrang Dal, there are as many as five dedicated goshalas in the district, and the average number of cattle brought to these goshalas after being rescued from trafficking stands at around 600 to 700 per year.
Change in lifestyle in the coastal district and vertical development of the city has had a huge impact in the decrease in the population of cattle. K V Halagappa, deputy director, department of animal husbandry opines that the decrease is obvious as a majority of the people in the district have moved away from cattle rearing and diverted to other lucrative jobs. "One can observe that people these days have less interest in agriculture as it has its own difficulties compared to white-collared jobs. This has hit agriculture badly, and as a result impacted cattle rearing," he says.
The investment required for cattle rearing is also more compared to other sectors such as poultry farming and piggeries. The population of poultry and pigs has been on the increase, with people actively involving in the business.
The data pertaining to 2012 reveals that there was a decline of 18 percent in the number of people taking up cattle rearing, as compared to the previous survey carried out in the year 2007. The figure clearly shows that people are turning their backs to this field considering the loss incurred in cattle rearing, Halagappa opined.
The documentation of slaughter houses by environment engineer of MCC Madhu S Manohar says in a month an average of 125 cattle are slaughtered, or 1,500 cattle a year in the district. But slaughter houses are not permitted to kill cows as per the PCA (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Act. "The decline in the population indicates alteration in the mindset of the people who have rejected cattle rearing as an occupation," says Manohar.
Meanwhile, he contended that the conditions are not quite suitable for rearing of buffaloes. He said paddy fields have been gradually vanishing from the coastal district, giving way to other forms of farming in the district. Over the years the population of buffaloes has slowed down with people unwilling to rear the animal.
"The average number of cattle trafficked including those traced by the police department could be up to 50-100 a year. The number in the district is far less compared to other districts that are notorious for illegal cattle transportation," says a police inspector in the district on condition of anonymity. This police inspector has handled many cases in connection to trafficking in which he found that the cattle were brought to the district from places like Shimoga, Sringeri, Udupi, Kalasa and others. He said the incidents of cattle thefts in the district are less compared to these places.
Around 2,225-3,500 cattle were killed, legally and illegally, in the district between 2003 and 2014.
This means, on an average, decline in population of cattle due to killing had a share of only about 1.6 to 2.46 percent per year. This, therefore, contradicts the argument put forth by the right wing thinkers who see role of cattle trafficking and licensed slaughtering as a key factor for the gradual decrease in the population of cattle in the district.