Protection
and Conservation of Govansh
Copy of Ref: L4C/21/2002 , Dated the 9th January,
2002.from Love 4 Cow Trust to Smt. Maneka Gandhiji,
Hon'ble Minister of State Independent Charge,
Department of Animal Care, Shastri Bhavan, New
Delhi-110001.
Sub:
Protection and conservation of Govansh
Respected
Madam,
Love4Cow Trust has recently organized a National
Seminar on Cow and Bio-diversity at India International
Centre, New Delhi on 30th November, 2001. The
recommendations of the Seminar were sent to
your honour for kind perusal.
As per the census figures of livestock carried
out in 1997, under circulation and yet to be
published, it is a matter of concern that not
only there has been continuous decrease in the
growth rate of Govansh but there is also decline
in the numbers in absolute terms. On the other
hand, the fertility of the soil is threatened
because of the depletion of micro-nutrients
which are not only essential for the growth
of the crops but are necessary for human health.
The micro-nutrients can only be restored by
using the urine and dung of the Govansh and
other animals. Therefore, there is an urgent
need to take up this issue.
The Trust has also gone through various Supreme
Court pronouncements on the question of cow
slaughter and note that Supreme Court has upheld
total ban imposed on cow slaughter of any age
and its calf. But in case of bulls and bullocks,
the slaughter is not banned once these are not
useful to the agriculture. In the light of these
verdicts, all the State Governments except Arunachal
Pradesh, Kerala, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland
and Tripura have banned cow slaughter. Whereas
we may continue in our efforts for total ban
on Govansh slaughter, the following suggestions
are made for immediate consideration:
i)
Department of Animal Care or Animal Welfare
Board of India may kindly give wide publicity
to make people aware that except the States
of Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Meghalaya, Mizoram,
Nagaland and Tripura, all other States have
banned slaughter of cows and if any such incident
comes to the notice of the public, the same
should be reported to the nearest Police Station
or to the District Magistrate. The complaint
could also be faxed to Department of Animal
Care or Animal Welfare Board of India.
ii)
The Governments of Assam and West Bengal which
have banned cow slaughter only upto the age
of 14 years, may be requested to amend their
order to ban cow slaughter irrespective of the
age.
iii)
The Governments of Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala,
Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura which
have not banned cow slaughter, may be requested
to consider such a ban in the light of the fact
that the rest of the States have already done
in and that this would be in line with the Supreme
Court pronouncements.
iv)
The States which have banned cow slaughter,
may be advised to put a complete ban on inter-state
movement of Govansh in the interest of the agriculture
and restoration of micro-nutrients and fertility
of the agricultural land.
v)
The Supreme Court in its earlier verdict have
not agreed to complete ban in case of bull and
bullocks on the ground that they are not useful
to the agriculture. Whereas it is contended
that such bulls and bullocks above the age of
15 years are also useful for local transportation
and their dung and urine has economic value.
However, there is no study on this aspect as
such by the Government. Therefore, a study by
the experts in this regard may be instituted
by the Government immediately.
.Your
honour being not only the Hon'ble Minister but
also an animal lover, the Trust approach your
good-self for your kind intervention The Trust
will be grateful if your honour immediately
use good offices for the protection and conservation
of the Govansh and for safeguarding the bio-diversity
of our environment.
With best regards,
