To,
Shri G.N. Singh,
Joint Secretary,
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying,
Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying,
Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi – 110001
Government of India
Sub: Comments and suggestions reg. ‘Livestock and Livestock Products [Importation and Exportation] Bill, 2023’
Sir,
This is with reference to comments and suggestions being invited by your Department concerning the ‘Livestock and Livestock Products [Importation and Exportation] Bill, 2023.’ With regard to the same, please find below some grave concerns that I have;
1. Point 2(a) lists livestock as ‘commodities.’ We are talking about lives here, an organism that breathes and has a soul. They are animals, sentient beings. No life form is to be demeaned enough to be labeled as a commodity. Our Article 51A (g) of the Constitution of India states ‘protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.’
2. Coincidentally, in point 2 e – all the listed livestock (donkeys, horses, mule, cattle, buffaloes, bullocks, swines, canines and felines, avian, laboratory animals) are victims of unabated cruelty in India. This bill is the last straw of indignity towards all of them.
3. Point 5 ‘Penalty in violating the provision of the act or notifications thereunder’ must also include the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
4. Point 9 ‘protection to persons acting under Act’ is a license for anyone who hates the animals to have a field day.
In addition to the above, the current methods adopted for transporting livestock are gruesome, cruel and vile that cost these animals their lives owing to hypoxia, over congestion and dehydration, which sadly finds no mention in the bill. This bill is the last gruesome act that will prove that we are a nation that does not know how to respect animals. Our Father of the nation had said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
There is no element of humanity and compassion in this bill. Infact, it will legalize animal trafficking in India, which, in my opinion, is as shameful as human trafficking. Kindly, have the bill scrapped.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
