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Animal Talk
THE RESPONSE to the call for humane solutions was overwhelming. It was also shocking to find that the Chengicherla modern slaughterhouse is locked up! Due to space constraints, we have not been able to carry all responses. This information appeals to the State Government to look at the State-wide slaughter of animals and implement humane slaughter rules. It could also help the Supreme Court of India decide on a course of action. So, here are readers' solutions to cruel slaughter methods currently practiced in Andhra Pradesh.
In safe custody
HERE IS a short and heart-rending saga of the big animals, which are being subjected to undue torture and violence while transporting them to the slaughterhouses. In the cattle shanties of Gorantla and Kothacheru and market committee of Ananthapur, the horrible scenes can be witnessed from Saturday to Monday.
In December 2003, 12 lorries carrying 275 cattle were seized by the police at Bathalapalli on their way to Kerala. In all, there were 36 persons involved in this illegal and brutal activity of overloading the lorries with 20 to 25 big animals. The police were kind enough to seize them and handover them to Karuna Society for Animals, Enumulapalli, Puttparthi, by a court order. They are still in the safe custody of the Society.
Will the Chief Minister provide measures to stop the distress sales by the farmers, who are unable to feed their cattle due to the drought condition in Ananthapur district and other parts of the state? The animal world will be thankful and raise their heads in silent prayers if the humankind rescues them from such barbarism.
C. Jayashree Sarathy,
Padmaraonagar
Thank you for your story Mrs. Sarathy,
You will be happy to know that the Animal Welfare Board of India has just sanctioned Rs. 12 lakhs for the drought relief work to feed and water drought hit cattle of Chittoor district in A.P. Perhaps, this will help the farmers of this region tide over the difficult months and protect their animals.
Of checks and licences
I WOULD like to suggest the following solutions:
* Surprise checks by the concerned officials on slaughter shops to know whether they are implementing the rules or not. If not, license should be cancelled or a heavy fine is to be levied.
* Before giving license to slaughterhouses, the butcher has to be trained and upgraded about the rules. Otherwise, he should not be given license.
* Slaughterhouses should not be near residential areas.
* Slaughter houses should be kept clean.
* Any animal suffering from health problems should not be killed.
M. Nisha,
Secunderabad
Larger issues
I AGREE that humane treatment of animals (often including fellow humans) is required but is a grossly neglected area of our society's mental makeup. On a broader outline, I will look beyond temporary actions like writing to authorities.
Issue 1: Apathy (we don't care what happens to those animals). Reasons are many.
Issue 2: Any change requires sufficient stimulus. Articles in newspapers are good beginning - but nowhere near enough. Who are the people in whom we can trigger the emotions and make them act? Even if such people are not too many, their contribution will result in bigger stimuli.
Issue 3: What are the core messages / images / words / themes that will trigger the emotions in the "target audience". The most direct is to "take them to the scene of the crime;" if you cannot, put the scene in front of them; Words are not enough - especially if they are in English. Most of us can't extract emotions from a foreign language. Pictures are best. I know, motion picture may be impractical but how about a storyboard?
One possibility: Children react well and are still sensitive to suffering. Targeting children too young with a gruesome topic is another insensitivity in itself, but how about those above 10 years? What if you introduce a well-done comic storyboard strip to them? My son made me give up wearing silk because he came to know that it requires boiling of live silkworms. I rest my case.
Sastry Tumuluri
Dear Mr. Sastry,
Thank you for the valuable information. Actually, the slaughter rules article came as a follow up of efforts nationwide, after the Supreme Court ordered Animal Welfare Board of India to look into the condition of all slaughterhouses. The Animal Welfare Board has been given time to conduct inspections through NGOs and look into all violations of the slaughterhouse rules. Unfortunately, during inspections, we found that none of the authorities were aware of the rules. The rules are being circulated. Hence the series of articles mentioning the laws, rules and violations for public awareness followed. Children are a good target, but we also believe that State Governments have a responsibility to follow rules for humane slaughter. You are right about the language, but to the best of our knowledge, all the Government authorities in charge are well versed in English language and they can have information translated and circulated in the vernacular. Presently, we are more dependent on who will allow such information to be published (like The Hindu). If any Telugu or Urdu publication comes forward, we shall be happy to provide information for translation.
Professional training
A LOT can be done to improve the condition of animals to be slaughtered. The fear and suffering the animals experience before death stimulates the secretion of many hormones which might have a negative effect on the bodies of people who devour them. So, it is imperative even for the meat eaters to take meat from an animal that has been killed "humanely" i.e., with minimal suffering. In certain parts of the country, cattle for beef are hammered on their skulls till they are dead. This inhuman practice is done in full view of other animals that wait for their "turn".
Similarly for pork, hot iron is inserted into the anus of pigs and thus killed. Apparently, the slitting of throat is difficult in pigs due to huge amount of fat in the neck region and, when done, it is a tedious procedure. In meat factories for cattle, a small special type of stun gun is used with which they are stunned. The death is then painless. Similarly, pigs are electrocuted through a stun gun and once unconscious, they are knifed.
As is evident from the above examples, killing can be less cruel if we want it to be. It is here that the Government can come to the rescue of the plight of our "food" animals. A registration should be there for meat shops and only trained butchers practicing slaughter rules should be allowed to slaughter the animals. The place where the animals are slaughtered should be away from where the meat is sold and also from the place where animals are kept.
Failing to meet these requirements, the shop registration should be cancelled. Being a butcher is a profession and hence calls for professional training. If even for cold-blooded criminals we employ trained executioner to execute, and look after their last wishes, why can't we do so for the poor animals that we kill for no fault of theirs but to satiate our taste buds!
Nishant Narayan,
S.D. Road
In totality
THE ANIMAL to be slaughtered is to be put to death but this should not deny it the dignity while it lives. The aspects concerning the animal being brought to the slaughterhouse to the meat reaching the consumer are to be seen in totality and should not be taken up piece meal. Transportation of MOH (meat on hoofs) or MWF (meat with feathers) to the butchery should be monitored carefully. The animals are taken to the butchery in a most pathetic manner; some are made to walk miles before they reach the altar. Hundreds of birds with feet tied are hung upside down on the two-wheelers, which will make the most hardened person ask for mercy for the creatures. Overcrowded lorries and many other shabby ways of hauling the animals to the butchery are a common sight. Proper transportation should be made compulsory by mechanised transport. The waiting areas for the animals are not catered for and they stand in the sun without food and water. Some animals actually die in the waiting process. These dead animals are also sold out as meat. Shade and watering facilities should be a feature of the animal waiting area even if it is a temporary shelter.
The inspection of the animals by the vet and segregation of the sick and pregnant animals should be done by the vet. The animals, which are segregated in the process should be retained in the recovery and treatment centre for which the owner of the animal should pay. The owner should be given back the animal only when it is cured and certified fit. Under no circumstances should the unhealthy animals be allowed to be re-circulated for slaughter.
The process of slaughtering of the animal should be switched to the mechanical process rather than the manual process, thus eliminating the requirement of the butchers. Both types of slaughtering processes of jhatka and halaal can be carried out mechanically. The mandatory prayers for the halaal slaughter can be recited before the animal is stunned on its entry to the slaughter room. The skinning and dressing of the animal is also done mechanically with the help of machines.
Washing chambers with mechanised facilities and proper drainage should be provided so that the place is not a mess of blood and dirt at any time. The cleaned carcass of the animal should be hung to facilitate the draining of water and the meat setting in. Fans for air drying the meat should be provided in this chamber.
Inspection of the meat by the vet should be mandatory and the certificate for the meat being fit for human consumption should be given by the vet by stamping the carcass; rejected carcasses and accessories like liver, kidney, heart should be converted into animal food by boiling it or rendered unfit for human and animal consumption by treating it and burying it; this should be done under the strict supervision of the government officials.
The transportation of the dressed meat over short distances may be permitted by ordinary covered lorries provided with hooks and tying facilities. The refrigeration facilities in these short haul vehicles may not be mandatory, but for long transfer of meat products, the vehicle must have refrigeration facilities. The retail outlet should have fly-proof accommodation with proper chopper block and sharp cutting tools. The storage facilities provided should be with refrigeration. Proper weighing and packing facilities should be available.
Inspection on a periodic basis of all these facilities by the government inspectors needs no overemphasis and the surprise checks by the vets will keep the systems functioning smoothly and efficiently. The consumer cannot ensure the humane aspect of the product he consumes, this has to be ensured by the government agencies. Let us hope some urgent steps are initiated to centralise the slaughterhouses and the shanty slaughterhouses are locked up for good so that the consumer gets safe, hygienic and humane meat for consumption.
Lt. Col. (R) N.J.S. Sarna
Adarsh Nagar
Congratulations Col. Sarna,
Your suggestions are very valid and you have obviously studied the problem and the solution. Thank you. However, even in a mechanised slaughterhouse human involvement is crucial. So who stands to gain from the modern slaughterhouse functioning?
* The poor farmer who will have to deal directly with the management and not the Mudedar who is a commission agent and exploits the farmer.
* The butcher who will be ensured employment in the new project after proper training.
* The animals involved as all slaughter rules will be followed: Stunning, humane slaughter, hygienic conditions, etc.
* The consumer as they are assured of humane, hygienic meat.
Based on this, there is no reason left for the modern slaughterhouse in Chengicherla to be locked up and 30 crores of taxpayers' money standing wasted.
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