Shortage of beef in Goa is manmade scenario due to selfish motives. It is not a health issue. It is not a dietary issue so as to seek for alternative food items. Some food items have a good number of alternatives.
It is not the issue to know what is more nutritious and what is less nutritious for human beings. Giving alternative dietary food item for beef shortage is nothing but trivializing the issues or escaping from the real issues. Beef shortage has created unnecessary hitches in Goa.
Firstly, the moot issue is who and what has created this shortage of beef in Goa? Secondly, in a democratic country like India no one has the right to compel the other person as to what to eat and what not to eat. Such a move impinges upon the freedom of another person. Thirdly, it has affected the livelihood of many business communities in Goa. And finally, it is a subtle way of upholding and promoting brahamanical hegemony in India.
Generally, Goans irrespective of caste and creed, the tribal communities, subaltern communities are beef eaters in India. Every person is free to eat what they need. Therefore to say that there is an alternative to beef and justifying it, is another way of shrouding the real issues.
Rui Pereira, Navelim
