Copy
of Reference /L4C/802/2001, Dated the 27th December,2001
from Love4Cow Trust
to Dr. V.K. Taneja, Animal Husbandry Commissioner,
Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying,
Government of India, Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi-1.
Sub:
Basic Animal Husbandry statistics 1999 - few
suggestions thereof regarding the Cow.
Sir,
During
the National Seminar on Cow and Bio-diversity
organized by this Trust on 30th November, 2001
at India International Centre, New Delhi, Shri
Guman Mal Lodha, Chairman, Animal Welfare Board
has quoted figures from the aforesaid publication
of your Department. In this regard, we would
like to make a few suggestions for your kind
consideration:
i)
The English word "cattle" means "Govansh".
Whereas technical people understand this but
in common parlance the public understand cattle
to include buffaloes and like. There is lot
of confusion and it is suggested that instead
of word "cattle", the word "Govansh"
may be used and if there is any difficulty then
wherever cattle is used, at least Govansh may
used in brackets.
ii)
In part III of the Statistics compilation, Table
27 refers to meat production. In the statistics,
both beef and veal have been put together. As
you know, beef is the flesh of cow/ox and veal
is the flesh of the calf. In a number of States,
there is a ban on slaughter of cow and its progeny.
Wherever it is permitted, it is for such stock
which is not fit for human consumption. Obviously,
slaughter houses in different States will require
to maintain data separately and it is, therefore
suggested that you may also consider compiling
statistics separately for cow, ox/bull and the
calf, State-wise, so that ground position emerges
with clarity.
iii)
Further, the meat production data for indigenous
meat production in Table 28 has been clubbed
together as beef and buffalo. As indicated above,
the slaughter houses are required to maintain
data separately as per the legislation on ban
on slaughtering of cow and its progeny. It is
not clear why both figures have been clubbed.
It is, therefore, suggested that here also the
State-wise data for cow, ox/bull and calf may
be given separately and may not be clubbed with
buffalo.
iv)
It is noted that this Department is publishing
the figures of FAO. Further, the footnote says
that the data shown in the Table 27 relate to
animal slaughtered within the national boundaries
irrespective of their origin. Does it mean that
animals are imported for slaughtering in our
country? It is suggested that the Department
may collect its own data State-wise like all
other statistics which are collected and compiled
State-wise. When FAO can collect and publish
their data for our country then the Government
of India may also be able to do it.
You
will kindly agree that the statistics are an
important input in policy decision making. Non-compilation
of the desired data shadow the decision making
and also the clear picture about the implementation
of the projects and policies in not known. We
are very sure that you will kindly look into
this important aspect and consider our aforesaid
suggestions.
With
best regards,
Copy for kind consideration and necessary follow
up with the Government to:-
1.
Chairman, Animal Welfare Board, Government of
India, New Delhi.
2. Chairman, National Cattle Commission, Government
of India, New Delhi.
3. Member-Secretary, National Cattle Commission,
Govt. of India, New Delhi.
Copy
also to: 1. PS to Hon'ble Minister of State
for Agriculture
2. PS to Hon'ble Minister of State for Animal
Care.
