States still to submit Objections to Regulation of Livestock Market Rules,2017

Pashu Sandesh, 09 December 2019

How much are we serious in the matter of Animal Welfare is presented by the fact that most of the States are still to submit objections and suggestions to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Market) Rules, 2017. This information was provided by the Dr Sanjeev Balyan in the ongoing Lok Sabha session on 03 December. 

In an answer to a question, the MoS for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Dr Balyan informed the house that only 12 States including Kerala has submitted the objections and suggestions to the Regulation of Livestock Market rules 2017.

The draft Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Market) Rules, 2017 were notified on 16th January 2017 by Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change inviting objections and suggestions and finally notified on 23rd May 2017 after incorporating the suggestions and comments wherever found suitable. Thereafter, numbers of representations were received from indls, organisations and representatives of the State Governments requesting for the withdrawal of the rules. Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change has further notified draft Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Animal Market Rules, 2018 which was published in supersession of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Market) Rules, 2017 for inviting comments.

The prime focus of the regulation was to protect the animals from cruelty and not to regulate the existing trade in cattle for slaughterhouses. It is envisaged that the welfare of cattle dealt in the market will be ensured and that only healthy animals are traded for agriculture purposes for the benefits of the farmers. The livestock markets are intended to become hubs for trade for the animal for agriculture through this process and animal for slaughter will have to be bought from the farmers at the farms.

Earlier, notification was criticised alleging that the rules meddled with people’s food choices, with governments of Kerala, Meghalaya and West Bengal supporting the charge. The main reason for the 2017 rules was meant to end the illegal trade of animals across international borders and inter-state borders for slaughter. 

With States sitting silently on the issue raises the very fundamental question about the seriousness on the issues of the Animal Cruelty. Animals have long forgotten among the rush of the civilisation but no society is civilised enough if it fails to take care of its Animals who are often the victim on the fast road of development.