There are laws governing the slaughter of cows, but there is no law that explicitly bans the consumption of beef. Admittedly, the statement on Karnataka has the right to decide on cow slaughter was qualified with the statement that a decision on this would be taken considering the ‘people’s emotions’. It was also said that a ban on cow slaughter in Karnataka would not affect Goa. Given that almost all the beef Goa consumes comes from Karnataka, this would have a major bearing on our State. But a ban on beef shouldn’t, however, depend merely on emotions of the people.

These are two different issues here. There is a ban on the slaughter of cows in Goa since 1978 – there are no cows slaughtered in the State for the past four decades. The ban on slaughter of cows, however, does not stop the slaughter of buffaloes. The Goa Meat Complex, which is a government undertaking, permits the use of its facilities for the slaughter of cattle, other than cows, which have been legally brought to the slaughter house. Under the provisions of the Goa Animal Preservation Act, 1995, bulls, bullocks, male calves and buffaloes can be slaughtered but only if there is a ‘fit-for-slaughter’ certificate. Such a certificate is not given if the animal could become economical in the future. There has been no objection to the slaughter of cattle other than cows and calves, but a ban on beef would mean a complete ban on the slaughter of buffaloes too, besides the existing ban on cows. If this is being considered there are other issues that will need to be taken into consideration.

A section of the population, quite substantial in number, consumes beef. Banning this product would lead to alienate the people who traditionally and historically have been consumers of this product. Yes, their emotions would have to be considered, especially since it is not a very small number that consumes beef. There is no objection to a ban on cow slaughter, which is in place in most States, it is including buffaloes and other cattle in the ban that is the point of discussion.

But there are other factors, including the economic factor that has to be taken into account as the beef industry provides employment to thousands of persons in the country. There is not only the cattle rearer who will find himself at a loss in the event of a beef ban, but also the supplier of the buffalo to the slaughter house, the slaughter house itself, the supplier of the beef to the retailer and the retailer. There are thousands of small business outlets that exist solely on the sale of beef. And the business of beef goes beyond that the small retailer and the cattle rearer. 

India, for that matter, is the largest exporter of beef – buffalo meat – in the world, and at a time when the economy is struggling to stay afloat, would it be advisable to even talk of a beef ban in the country? There requires to be some clarity on the subject, so that everybody concerned understands the issue. There is a ban on the slaughter of cows, this does not include the water buffaloes. Is this law going to be amended to include all cattle? That is the question that needs to be clarified, and the quicker this explanation comes the earlier will this issue be settled.