Are we moving towards becoming a beef-free nation? In the last three years, that is, since the BJP, led by Narendra Modi, took charge of the Centre and by extension the nation, there have been several indications that the government is gradually moving towards a ban on cattle slaughter. Even in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP talked about how the UPA government had turned India into a pink nation, a reference to the free slaughter of cattle. On Friday, another piece of this intricate puzzle fell in place. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules 2017 under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, notified by the Union environment ministry is expected to squeeze meat out of the market. Under the new rules, sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter is banned. This would include bulls, bullocks, cows, buffaloes, heifers, calves and camels. The list is exhaustive and even a casual reading is enough to inform that the Rs 1,00,000 crore beef industry is facing its toughest challenge.
But that is just one side of the story. The stringent rules are expected have a huge impact on farmers, the leather industry and in the long run could affect milk production. Leather and leather goods exports earn India around $5.85 billion a year and the domestic market is twice that size. India accounts for more than 13 per cent of the international market in hides and skins. All this could vanish, and in the future, something as simple as shoes could cost a fortune as leather becomes scarce. The number of people working in the industry will be the worst hit and most of them could be staring at a future of poverty. Modi’s ‘Make in India’ campaign which lays emphasis on the leather industry will collapse now that the source of raw material is threatened.
Farmers who want to off load cattle which have become useless are in deeper trouble. Under the new rules, both buyers and sellers will have to produce identity proof and farmland ownership papers. Five copies of proof of sale will have to be made and submitted to various government departments. Proof will have to be provided that the sale is for agricultural purpose only. This means that farmers will not be able to sell off old cattle which are no longer a source of income. They will have to look after them until death, which is a huge burden. States which have BJP governments have no choice but to implement the rules, but others, like Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the North-East where beef is part of the diet might choose to ignore it. But if the Centre is determined to implement this, the country could be staring at a period of unrest and economic uncertainty for the leather industry. As more pieces of the puzzle fall in place, India will soon discover that it is not only a land without beef, but also a nation without shoes.
