Eight visible downsides of beef ban Indian Government must consider

Presently, the issue of beef sale has stirred a debate over a mix of politics and religion. No animal shall be killed to feed human hunger. Nature has given enough for all. It’s the humans who messed up with the ecological balance. In modern world, India is trying to impose ban on beef sale in order to prevent cattle slaughter. The most recently example is ban on beef sale in Maharashtra, Haryana, and Himachal, which is likely to be extended very soon to other states, too.

Ban on beef sale sounds like cattle protection movement, but has raised serious issues for those who are dependent on it. Indian government needs to address these issues as well along with putting ban on beef sale. Take a look at the factions and cliques that are taking a hit over imposition of beef ban.

Agrarian economy

Agrarian economy

Image Source : Ste.India.Com

Livestock is considered a huge investment in agrarian economy. Farmers feed cattle in return of milk and physical power of bulls. Again, when unproductive, they are sold for good bucks in wake of a great demand of beef in domestic and international markets. Keeping unproductive cattle means consumption of 15-20 kg of daily feed for no visible profit to the farmer. Now, their routine cycle of selling infirm animals and acquiring new ones is broken. The government must mull over addressing the unrest among agitated agrarian groups.

What about carnivorous animals in cages?

carnivorous animal

Image Source : Telegraph.Co.Uk

Following the ban in Maharashtra, the captive carnivorous animals like lions and tigers are also suffering as their diet is being cut down by a significant amount. They are being fed chickens now – an obvious reason for price hike of chicken. However, chickens don’t make up for their full diet. To cap it all, there are enormous animals caged in zoos and parks that are suffering from beef ban. The situation is quite bleak and troubling, because the government hasn’t thought a way out to stop these animals from starving.

Restaurants suffer 70% hit on business

Beef ban 2

Image Source : IndianExpress.Com

Beef ban is has taken a toll on hotel and restaurant businesses in these states. In Maharashtra, a staggering some businesses report as much as 70% hit to sales, and most of the items on their menu have disappeared. In a nutshell, Maharashtra, which is a high beef consuming state, is going to see a serious threat to business and the livelihood of those dependent on it.

20 lakh Quresh community members left jobless

Quresh community left jobless

Image Source : IndianExpress.Com

The livelihood of people in Quresh community depends solely on beef trade. Workers at slaughterhouses, retailers, transporters, and small beef shopkeepers are jobless now. It has been their family business for generations. Now, a sudden ban on beef has jolted 20 lakh community members in Maharashtra. The number of jobless people is likely to go up as soon as the ban is extended to other states

Blast in stray cattle population

Blast in stray cattle

In states where beef is banned, a sudden rise in the number of stray cattle is the most common concern. Thousands of unproductive cows and bulls were earlier supplied to abattoirs daily as farmers and dairies couldn’t afford to keep and feed them. Now, they are setting these animals free and that has led to visible increase in the number of stray cows and bulls on roads and streets. The government has no counter-plan to attend to this issue as well.

Doom for leather traders

Dharavi leather market in Mumbai

Image Source : IndianExpress.Com

Leather industry is badly hit by the beef ban. The Dharavi leather market in Mumbai was once a thriving industry for leather accessories of International brands, but now it is doomed. Earlier, leather was bought at Rs. 1,500 apiece, but now, the cost has increased to 2,000. The leather traders were already taking a hit from supply of synthetic Chinese leather, and the recent ban has worsened the scenario.

Smuggling and illegal slaughter

Smuggling and illegal slaughter

Image Source : IndianExpress.Com

Consumption of beef in India is high and a sudden ban has triggered its demand. Illegal transportation and slaughter has fueled black market trade, which is one of many unintended consequences that the government failed to address.

No living being must be deprived of life and liberty. All animals deserve legal protection from slaughter. However, the present landscape is far more complicated than the government could comprehend, it must attend to these pitfalls for better regulation of blanket ban on beef sale.

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