Cows are not for eating

Cows are not for eating

The Government of Karnataka is to be congratulated for enacting the Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act with stringent provisions. A small section of the people is raising objections against the Act especially on the ground that it deprives a section of the people of their food namely beef. However we must know that beef is not a staple food in Karnataka for any religious group, as it is in America. It may cause only small inconvenience for a short period which is not insurmountable. But the economic and environmental advantages of cow protection far out-weigh the small inconvenience.
Several studies have been published on the serious economic and environmental impacts of beef industry in the U.S. They say,
1. It takes 16 pounds of grain to produce one pound of beef.
2. About 20 vegetarians can be fed on the land that it takes to feed one beef eater.
3. 56% of all agricultural land in the U.S. is used for beef production. If all of the Soya beans and grain fed yearly to U.S. livestock were set aside for human consumption, it would feed 1.3 billion people.
4. One pound of beef from cattle raised on feed lots represents the loss of 35 pounds of top soil.
5. In the U.S. about 260 million acres of forest have been cleared for a meat centered diet.
6. Each pound of hamburger made from Central American or South American beef costs about 55 square feet of rain forest vegetation.
7. 25 gallons of water is needed to produce one pound of wheat, but 2500 gallons of water is needed to produce one pound of beef.
(Source: Divine Nature by Michael Crème and Mukunda Goswamy)
The above facts will reveal that beef eating is economically irrational and environmentally destructive. The Gnanapeeta Awardees who are opposing the cow slaughter prohibition Act on the grounds of beef shortage should take note of these.
The Supreme Court of India.
The Supreme Court of India in its judgement dated 26/10/2005 (Civil Appeal Nos. 4937-4940 of 1998) has upheld the ban on slaughter of cow progeny imposed by section 2 of Bombay Animal Preservation (Gujarath Amendment) Act 1994. It must be noted that the judgement is mainly based on great economic benefits from protection of cow and its progeny as against the claimed benefit of killing and eating them.
National Commission on Cattle. Recommendations
Vide its resolution dated 2nd August 2001, the Government of India established a National Commission on Cattle, comprising of 17 members. The commission was given the following terms of reference.
a) To review the relevant laws of the land (Centre as well as States) which relate to protection, preservation, development and well being of cow and its progeny and suggest measures for their effective implementation.
b) To study the existing provisions for the maintenance of Goshalas, Gosadans, Pinjarapoles and other organizations working for protection and development of cattle and suggest measures for making them economically viable.
c)To study the contribution of cattle towards the Indian economy and to suggest ways and means of organising scientific research for maximum utilization of cattle products and draught animal power in the field of nutrition and health, agriculture and energy, and to submit a comprehensive scheme in this regard to the Central Government.
d) To review and suggest measures to improve the availability of feed and fodder to support the cattle population.
The Committee after extensive research has given a list of recommendations. Some of them are,
1. The prohibition of slaughter of cow and its progeny, which would include bull, bullocks etc. should be included in the Fundamental Rights are as a Constitutional Mandate anywhere else, as an Article of Constitution. It should not be kept only in the Directive Principles or Fundamental duties as neither of these or enforceable by the courts.
2. The amendment of the Constitution should also be made for empowering the Parliament to make a Central Law for the prohibition of slaughter of cow and its progeny and further for prohibition of their transport from one state to another.
3. The Parliament should then make a Central Law applicable to all States, prohibiting slaughter of cow and its progeny. Violation of the Law should make a non-bailable and cognizable offence.
The above recommendations of the National Commission and the Supreme Court Judgement clearly emphasize the great role played by cow and its progeny in promoting a sustainable agriculture, inclusive development of the country and an environment friendly life style. Surely COWS ARE NOT FOR EATING.
Prof.B.M.Kumaraswamy,
Shivamogga.

*************************************************************