The problems facing the Goa Meat Complex cannot be stressed enough. Upgraded at the cost of `13 crore, the state of the art complex is currently lying idle. Instead, the fresh red meat being sold to consumers across municipal markets of the state is being procured from unknown sources across the border -- mostly North Karnataka.
While on one hand we have an abattoir upgraded at the cost of taxpayers money that is unused, and if used, would give consumers the guarantee that the meat they are buying is ‘certified', on the other, Goans have to do with meat that is slaughtered at unregulated slaughterhouses or possibly even in the open.
There are two sets of people at fault here, both of whom live off each other. The traders' sole aim is to run a successful business with as little costs and regulation as possible. It explains them choosing the cheaper option of slaughterhouses in Karnataka and then transporting the meat to Goa. They do not have to pay slaughter charges to the Goa Meat Complex, they can transport more meat per trip and do not have to face the ire of lumpen gau rakshaks who primarily are on the lookout for those transporting live animals. For them, it is also less risky as transporting an animal for over 200 kms to the Goa Meat Complex only to have it rejected by the certifying doctor is a loss they do not want to bear.
On the other hand, there are gau rakshaks and other extrajudicial elements that keep tab on the transport of cattle, besides periodically storming the Meat Complex alleging that traders are bringing underage animals. This further dissuades traders from bringing live animals to the Goa Meat Complex.
The only loser is the Goan consumer who has to make do with meat that could be coming from animals that are diseased or even dead as there is no way to tell given that it takes place outside the jurisdiction of the state.
For starters, the government needs to ensure that there is a stable atmosphere for the traders to conduct their business. Unqualified ‘activists' who have no role in the functioning of the Goa Meat Complex need to be kept away. They cannot subsume the role of certified veterinary doctors and arbitrarily claim that underage animals are being slaughtered at the Goa Meat Complex. A certified doctor alone is empowered to do this. These activists have no role in the Goa Meat Complex. Neither should they be allowed to check the vehicles transporting animals. That is the job solely of the authorities.
Secondly, traders need to be regulated to the point that they are made to fall in line. This needs to be done in collaboration with the Karnataka government by certifying the animals that are fit to be transported, humanely and without the possibility of extrajudicial elements arbitrarily halting transport.
For the sake of the health of the citizens in this state, the Goa Meat Complex needs to be started once again. It needs to be done now and not wait until it's too late.
While on one hand we have an abattoir upgraded at the cost of taxpayers money that is unused, and if used, would give consumers the guarantee that the meat they are buying is ‘certified', on the other, Goans have to do with meat that is slaughtered at unregulated slaughterhouses or possibly even in the open.
There are two sets of people at fault here, both of whom live off each other. The traders' sole aim is to run a successful business with as little costs and regulation as possible. It explains them choosing the cheaper option of slaughterhouses in Karnataka and then transporting the meat to Goa. They do not have to pay slaughter charges to the Goa Meat Complex, they can transport more meat per trip and do not have to face the ire of lumpen gau rakshaks who primarily are on the lookout for those transporting live animals. For them, it is also less risky as transporting an animal for over 200 kms to the Goa Meat Complex only to have it rejected by the certifying doctor is a loss they do not want to bear.
On the other hand, there are gau rakshaks and other extrajudicial elements that keep tab on the transport of cattle, besides periodically storming the Meat Complex alleging that traders are bringing underage animals. This further dissuades traders from bringing live animals to the Goa Meat Complex.
The only loser is the Goan consumer who has to make do with meat that could be coming from animals that are diseased or even dead as there is no way to tell given that it takes place outside the jurisdiction of the state.
For starters, the government needs to ensure that there is a stable atmosphere for the traders to conduct their business. Unqualified ‘activists' who have no role in the functioning of the Goa Meat Complex need to be kept away. They cannot subsume the role of certified veterinary doctors and arbitrarily claim that underage animals are being slaughtered at the Goa Meat Complex. A certified doctor alone is empowered to do this. These activists have no role in the Goa Meat Complex. Neither should they be allowed to check the vehicles transporting animals. That is the job solely of the authorities.
Secondly, traders need to be regulated to the point that they are made to fall in line. This needs to be done in collaboration with the Karnataka government by certifying the animals that are fit to be transported, humanely and without the possibility of extrajudicial elements arbitrarily halting transport.
For the sake of the health of the citizens in this state, the Goa Meat Complex needs to be started once again. It needs to be done now and not wait until it's too late.
