Border districts alerted to prevent animal transit for sacrifice in Nepal

Major animal sacrifice is witnessed in Nepal during ‘Gadhimai’ festival in a district adjacent to UP border where lakhs of animals such goats and buffaloes are killed. It is a 260-year-old festival held every five years with the last being held in 2014. Besides this, there are several small festivals/ occasions held annually where people sacrifice animals when their wishes are fulfilled.
The state animal husbandry department has constituted the “society for the prevention of cruelty to animals” in all the districts headed by the district magistrates to prevent such sacrificial killings. In the seven bordering districts, representative of Sashastra Seema Bal and district prosecution officer, too, have been made members. “Chief veterinary officer is the secretary-convenor of the society in each district and is responsible for implementing the instructions,” Singh said.

The animal husbandry department also has launched an awareness campaign to discourage people from performing such sacrifice. Educational institutions have also been roped in for organising awareness camps.

Animal husbandry minister Raj Kishore Singh informed that steps are being taken to stop animal sacrifice at all public places. “We are creating awareness among people. We have constituted SPCA in all districts and one state animal welfare board is functional in UP to prevent cruelty to animals,” said the minister.

Co-opted member of Animal Welfare Board of India under Ministry of Environment and Forests, Kamna Pandey appreciated the pro-active role of the state government. “It is great step and it will definitely help in reducing the number of animals being slaughtered because of the belief that it will make their wishes come true. It is a barbaric practice,” Pandey said.

“We welcome the step of state government. It is better to make it as a routine exercise as it becomes difficult to impose restrictions just before when any sacrificial religious functions are organised,” Gauri Maulekhi, Trustee, People For Animals, which has launched a campaign to prevent animal trafficking to Nepal for sacrificing, told The Indian Express.