PANAJI
The Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP), the social work wing of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, has petitioned Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to intervene in the beef shortage in the State, following a recent halt in supplies from Karnataka.
A memorandum signed by CSJP Executive Secretary Fr Savio Fernandes on December 15 has requested Sawant “to urgently intervene in this matter with Karnataka on behalf of Goa asking them not to notify this bill in their State in order to safeguard the livelihood of hundreds of meat traders who along with their employees and their families are totally dependent on this trade for their survival.”
“This intervention is also requested on behalf of the vast majority of beef consumers as well as for the benefit of the culinary business in Goa and for the benefit of tourism in the State,” stated the CSJP memorandum on behalf of the meat traders and beef consumers to the chief minister.
The memorandum stated that the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill 2020 bans the slaughter of bulls and bullocks in Karnataka, as well as prevents sale of bulls and bullocks within the state and also transportation of bulls and bullocks across the state for slaughter.
“This bill has badly affected meat traders in the State which depend totally on Karnataka for the supply of beef for human consumption. Earlier in 2015, Maharashtra also passed the above mentioned bill, because of which Goa was made to depend totally on Karnataka for beef supply.”
“Since agriculture is not in a large scale in Goa, animals needed for supply of beef are not available in the State. That is why Goa depends totally on Karnataka for beef supply.”
“The supply of beef or even live animals for slaughter blocked by both neighbouring states has seriously affected the livelihood of hundreds of meat traders, who along with their families depend solely on this trade for their survival. Moreover, meat traders generate employment to a sizeable number of people who are also hard hit,” stated the CSJP.
The CSJP claimed a vast majority of the population in the State consume beef, with beef being the primary source of protein for many of them.
“With beef not being available, many will be deprived of their staple diet. Goa also is a popular tourist destination both, for domestic as well as international tourists and beef is very important to the culinary business.”
“In a multi-cultural society like India, such ban will prove to be a challenge in upholding the plurality, which is the essence of our Nation.”
“Besides, thousands of farmers and dairy farmers from neighbouring states, especially Karnataka, will be impacted by these new rules which prevent them from selling their cattle in the cattle markets for the purpose of slaughter.”
“As a result, it would be extremely difficult for the vast majority of these farmers to procure new animals for agriculture purpose,” the CSJP added.
