COW QUESTION
Rajasthan: Cow Service Commission Prasanna Mohanty in The Statesman,13 January, 1996
The Bharatiya Janata Party's fixation with the "holy cow" simply defies logic. In a State where thousands of children die of malnutrition every year and the infant mortality rate at an official 82 per 1000, remains the fourth highest in the country with nothing being done about it, the ruling party has constituted a high-power commission for the protection of the cow.
On January nine, the Governor of Rajasthan, Mr. Baliram Bhagat, gave his consent for setting up a 15- member "Gau Seva Commission". The State Government took immediate measures and appointed members the very next day. With this, the Rajasthan Gau Seva Ayog Act of 1995 came into effect.
That it indeed is a high-power body needs no emphasis. Of the 15 members, six are senior IAS officers of the Secretary level, one Vice-Chancellor and the Director-General of Police. They are empowered to depute somebody else on their behalf if they so desire, but the representative cannot be less than a Deputy Secretary or Inspector General of Police.
The Rajasthan Government had passed two Acts to protect cows, the Rajasthan Preservation of Certain Animals Act, 1950, banning cow slaughter and the Rajasthan Bovine Animal (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation of Temporary Migration or Export) Act, 1995, banning transportation for the purpose of slaughter or export.
There is also a high-voltage State Government- sponsored programme to improve cow breed, called the "Gopal" scheme, which trains youth and engages them in villages for the purpose.
Organizations and schemes looking into the welfare of the "holy cow", thus, far surpass those taking care of the health needs of human beings who deserve immediate attention. A look at the "State Plan of Action for Children", published and circulated last year by the Rajasthan Government itself, proves the point.
The report provides a vivid picture of the extent of malnutrition, the high infant mortality rate and of how the poverty-stricken people of Rajasthan still go in for child marriage. So do we have a Malnutrition Prevention Commission? Or an Infant Mortality Reduction Commission? No, thank you. We are in a BJP-ruled State.
It is time the two countries became more open about cultural exchanges.
-Pakistani Singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Total Ban on Cow Slaughter Uneconomic-Prof. S. N. Mishra, Former Director of the Institute of Economic Growth
Ban on cow slaughter has adversely affected the dairy economy in India. Lifting of the restrictions on cow slaughter might be politically difficult, but without such a measure the dairy industry would face erosion.
The elimination of non-productive animals would not only spare the costly cattle feed for milch cattle, but also provide income to farmers through sale of meat. Due to the ban, farmers were starving non-productive animals to death. Is it not greater cruelty to animals.
Advanced countries in the dairy industry like the Netherlands maintained strict quality control and even a marginal reduction in the milk yield could send the animals to the slaughter house. Such a measure was required in the country to save the dairy economy from ruination
(Source: The PT1, 12 January, 1995)
Eating Habits of Urban Households
(Total Polled: 16,948 households)
Vegetarian 21.1%
Only eggs 3.7%
Non-Veg. 74.2%
Eating Habits Within Income Groups
(As a Percentage of Households
Polled within Each Group)
Monthly Income
Upto Rs.500 Rs.1001-2500 Above Rs.4,000
Non-Veg 83.8 75.3 62.6
Only eggs 3.2 2.8 7.8
Vegetarian 13.0 21.9 29.6
What Meat is Cooked in Non-Veg. Households
Mutton 91.5%
Fish 82.6%
Chicken 76.0%
Beef 12.7%
Pork 2.7%
(Source: IMRB's National Food Survey, 1992)
The minorities perceive that Narasimha Rao is responsible for the Babari Masjid demolition and so don't want him.
-C.K. Jaffer Sharief in Outlook
