Who gave legal, ethical authority to powerful persons to prevent birth of male calves?

By Bharat Dogra
Bullocks have served humanity well for thousands of years. In rural India they have been widely used to plough farms as well as for a host of other farming activities. In addition they have been used also in some cottage industries. They have been harnessed to carts to provide bullock carts used to carry passengers as well as loads of crop produce to markets.
The advent of tractors and the availability of easy loans and subsidies for purchase of tractors led to lesser role of bullocks in several villages, particularly in the green revolution mechanized belts, but still bullock carts continue to play a very important helpful role in many villages of India.
Despite this current government policies are threatening to almost eliminate the birth of bullocks. Ironically this is being done by a government which always claims to be committed to cow protection. But how can you ensure protection of the female of a species while eliminating the male of the same species. This goes against nature. Yet it is this foolhardy, unsustainable and even high-risk path which is being followed by the government in India.
In recent years, particularly the last six years or so, in its cattle breeding program the government has been enthusiastically spreading the so-called sexed semen technology or sex-selective technology aimed at ensuring that male calves (bullocks) are not born, only female calves (cows) are born. As much as 90 per cent ‘success’ (in terms of having only female calves) is claimed by promoters of this technology.
Initially this technology came up in the USA where patents were obtained. Then about a decade back we started hearing about this in India. Initially due to patent related factors the spread of the technology was expensive and hence slow in India, but its promoters found ways of working out indigenous, cheaper versions which could achieve similar results. To some extent this contributed to rapid spread. Then about six years back more firm government support became available and since then this technology has been spreading fast, with a minister claiming even to set up ‘ cow factories’.
The Hindu Business Line reported on December 27 2019, ---The country has found an innovative solution to control stray animal population. It is implementing the sex-sorting semen technology for artificial insemination, which will produce only female animals. This will reduce the number of male calves.
Earlier The Times of India had reported on November 26, 2014, quoting executives of a dairy firm—Officials claim that they have already partnered with some of the country’s premier institutes for developing this technology. In sexed semen, the fractions of the X-bearing (female) and Y-bearing (male) sperm are modified from the natural semen through sorting and selection.
More recently the Business Standard quoted a union minister as stating that we will set up cow birth factories ( ham gai paida karne ki factory laga denge). He said that 30 lakh doses of sex-sorted semen will be given in a year and by 2025 there will be 10 crore female cows. ( September 2019).
Further, on November 8, 2020 the Business Line reported—India now has an indigenous technology for sex sorting bovine sperms which would ensure birth of only female calves.
Clearly two notions are taken for granted by the promoters of this technology. One is that bullocks are not needed in India. Secondly there is nothing wrong if a few persons decide to eliminate the further advent of one gender of an animal, that too in the context of a species that has been extremely close to human beings since ancient times. Both of these assumptions are completely wrong.
Despite mechanization, bullocks still continue to play a very important economic role in many, many villages of India. Apart from their strong economic role, they have very strong cultural presence. They have been the pride of farmer households and much affection has been showered on bullocks, just as on cows. This comes out in literature like Prem Chand’s Do Bailon ki Katha as also in its film version Hira Moti (with beautiful Bhojpuri music). The hero of award winning classic film Teesri Kasam, based on a famous story of Phanishwar Nath Renu, is a bullock cart driver. Many bullock carts are beautifully designed and crafted, with accompanying art work. Many rural artisans have been known far and wide for their special skills related to bullock carts. Bullocks and bulls are celebrated much in culture and mythology. Bullock races have been a main sporting event in several villages.
In fact in areas where bullocks have declined in recent years, there are reasons why the revival of bullocks may be practical and desirable. In times of climate change there are increasing reasons for shifting away from fossil fuels and chemical fertilizers in farming, and this may well signal the possible revival of many-sided useful role of bullocks in eco-friendly and organic farming, food processing and rural transport, to replace diesel ( or other fossil fuel ) guzzling technologies and implements. Bullocks and cows are integral to solutions in the form of organic farming and natural farming, providing manure as well as bio-gas.
Secondly, with or without efforts for further enhancing the role of bullocks, it needs to be questioned if a few persons in powerful positions can take upon themselves the role of preventing the birth of male calves or bullocks. From where and how they get the legal and ethical authority for this? Can some powerful elites simply assign to themselves the role of preventing the birth of one gender of an animal species? Such technology is being used to prevent the birth of male calves today. Tomorrow it can be used with some modification to prevent the birth of male or female gender of any other animal. Where will it stop?
Before spreading this technology have its promoters also thought about various possible risks. As the ongoing pandemic has taught us at high cost, the entire issue of animal-human interactions has to be guided along a path of safety and least risks to avoid catastrophic events. For thousands of years in nature male and female species have existed together. Now a stage comes when a few persons with very narrow thinking say—let us stop one gender from entering the world. Such human imposed disruption of natural existence, which can be extended to other species, has the possibility of leading to highly undesirable and harmful consequences. What happens when only one gender is allowed to take birth and the other is not?
What about the quality of milk produced after this technology has spread widely? Has anyone carried out longer-term studies to rule out any adverse impacts? In case of quality loss or harm, who will be responsible? The role of science should be to contribute to better protection for both cows and bullocks instead of upsetting the entire balance.
It is one thing to think in terms of improving usefulness of animals to human beings. It is quite another to go to the extent of saying—animals exist only for human beings and their gender that ceases to be useful for human beings can be stopped from taking birth and coming to earth. This latter view is a completely unethical view and crosses the limits of human-centric extremism.
Hence clearly there is urgent need for reviewing the government policy of spreading sexed semen technology before it causes more harm.
---
The writer is Honorary Convener, Save the Earth Now Campaign. His recent books include 'Planet in Peril' and' India’s Quest for Sustainable Farming and Healthy Food'

Comments

Abrogation of Art 370: Increasing alienation, relentless repression, simmering conflict

One year after the abrogation by the Central Government of Art. 370 in Kashmir, what is the situation in the Valley. Have the promises of peace, normalcy and development been realised? What is the current status in the Valley? Here is a detailed note by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties , “Jammu & Kashmir: One Year after Abrogation of Art. 370: Increasing Alienation, Relentless Repression, Simmering Conflict”:

Release of dabang neta: Rule of law can't be allowed to be slave to political rhetoric

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* When we look to politicians for solutions and politics as the 'final solution' for every evil then we are disappointed most of the time. In politics, we knowingly or unknowingly become part of the propaganda tool of the ruling elite which exists everywhere across different castes. We often provide issues and talk about them in binaries which suit our elites. The minorities among the marginalised who have no political space and representation rarely get heard by these majoritarian parties whose agenda remain power communities. Every political party in today's time is following the 'successful' formula of 'democracy' which is keeping the 'powerful' 'jaatis' with them leaving aside the marginalised one. The BJP started this but yes they cobbled together all other communities too through a diverse narrative.

Why are 17 Indian cos, including Sterlite, blacklisted by Norway bank

By Venkatesh Nayak* Readers may recall the gory incidents that took place at Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) in Tamil Nadu in the southern part of India on 22 May, 2018. Thirteen protesters died on the spot when the police opened fire to disperse an assemblage of thousands of local residents and representatives of civil society groups. They were protesting against the adverse environmental impact of the industrial operations of Sterlite Copper which runs a copper smelter plant in the area. Accusations against the company have ranged from polluting local water resources to plans for expanding the installed capacity of the plant without the necessary environmental clearances. A ground report published in The Wire recently, mentions the decision taken by Norges Bank a few years ago to not invest funds from Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG) in Sterlite “due to an unacceptable risk of complicity in current and future severe environmental damage and systematic human rights violations

India’s macroeconomic resilience amidst global fragility: facts, factors, forecasts

By IMPRI Team Under the series, The State of the Economy – #EconDialogue , Center for the Study of Finance and Economics (CSFE), IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute, New Delhi organized #WebPolicyTalk, a distinguished lecture on the topic India’s Macroeconomic Resilience amidst Global Fragility: Facts, Factors and Forecasts, by Dr Deepak Mishra. Dr Deepak Mishra is the Director and Chief Executive of the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) , New Delhi. The session was chaired by Dr Rafiq Dossani, Director, RAND Center for Asia Pacific Policy , a Senior Economist and the Professor of Policy Analysis, Pardee RAND Graduate School . The discussants of the event were Prof Nilanjan Banik, Professor and Program Director (BA, Economics and Finance), Mahindra University, Hyderabad , Dr Pooja Misra, Associate Professor and Area Head, Economics, Birla Institute of Management Technology, Greater Noida and Mr Arvind Chari, Chief Investment Officer, Qua

Upcoming monsoon: No lessons learned from past flooding, waterlogging of Vadodara

Letter to MoEF&CC, Vadodara Municipal Corporation, Vadodara Urban Development Authority, Collector Vadodara, Chief Secretary, Gujarat, GPCB, CPCB and Others by Concerned Citizens of Vadodara*: *** Let us take into account the uncertainty of weather and climatic conditions and the prevalent erratic rainfall. Let us hope that we remember past floods and waterlogging and have learnt lessons from those disasters and tragedies. So, let us act immediately before the upcoming monsoon of 2023. It is apparent that, practically, no lessons have been learned from the past flooding and waterlogging events and from the ill-advised and ill-conceived rejuvenation efforts of Vishwamitri River. No action has been taken yet by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation in terms of identifying and removal of the debris from the ravines, water ways, lakes, ponds, wetlands, and low-lying areas. Instead, dumping of debris and other wastes continues into the river environs. Even clear directions given by the con

Why was this BJP leader forced to call off marriage of his daughter with Muslim boy?

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* A marriage of two individuals belonging to different faiths was ultimately postponed as the 'champions' of the social morality dominated the discourse and threatened the father of the girl who happened to be the chairman of Pauri city municipality. Yashpal Benam, a BJP leader, posted the invitation of his daughter's wedding with a Muslim boy from Uttar Pradesh. Both the boy and the girl became friend during their B Tech course and were in relationship. There were reports that they already got married in the court but we don't know the reality. Perhaps the family of the girl wanted to send a message of 'acceptability' and 'appreciation' of such a marriage by the society.

Against genuine pace, spin Rohan Kanhai was best player, on par with Viv Richards

By Harsh Thakor Rohan Kanhai took creative genius in batting or aesthecism to regions unexplored. He virtually gave the art of batting a new dimension, being the equivalent of a Beethoven or Rembrandt to batting. He in full flow was manifestation of a divine energy. He could literally invent strokes of his own. He could eviserate any bowling attack, in any conditions.

Adherent of Charu Mazumdar who failed to confront policy of annihilation of class enemy

By Harsh Thakor Communist Revolutionary leader Chandi Sarkar expired at 76 years old at his home in Krishnanagar of Nadia on, 5th April, at 11 pm. He has carved a permanent niche amongst the great Communist Revolutionary leaders of India. Till his last breath he blazed the spirit of revolution. Few leaders in West Bengal, more ressurected spirit of Naxalbari. Only with characters like Sarkar, can the Indian revolution ever advance. With unflinching resilience he defended Mao Tse Tung Thought and concept of peoples War. Chandi Sarkar was born on 15 August 1947 in a landlord family of Maharajpur village of Chandra Police Station of Nadia district. His father’s name was Ashok Sarkar. He was an accomplished sportsman since childhood, being given a trainee job as a for hockey player.

In terms of sheer statistics Sydney Barnes was indisputably the best of all bowlers

By Harsh Thakor Late Sydney Barnes just reached the milestone of 150. Born at Smethwick, Staffordshire, April 19, 1873. Died at Chadsmoor, Staffordshire, and December 26, 1967. Sydney Francis Barnes was the second son of five children of Richard Barnes who spent nearly all his life in Staffordshire and worked for a Birmingham firm for 63 years. The father played only a little cricket and Sydney Barnes pledged that he never had more than three hours' coaching. Billy Ward of Warwickshire gave him the tutelage in his cultivating the off break from which he developed a leg break.Barnes was a gaunt faced man with wide eyes and an austere expression. Action and Style With a bouncy run up his long strong fingers could spin, swerve and seam a cricket ball in the air at medium pace, a but a stock speed well above medium..He bowled with his middle finger over the seam with the first and third spread on either side. His full circular swing enabled him to produce a smooth, coordinated delive

Killing of Atiq raises questions regarding lapses in cops' professional competence

By Prof Sudhanshu Tripathi* What next or who next? The ongoing narrative in popular media over the slain Atiq Ahmed began with CM Yogi’s oft-cited speech in the state assembly that “iss mafia ko mitti mein mila denge.” And consequent encounters of four shooters by the UP police involved in the cold blooded murder of Umesh Pal -- the only witness alive in Raju Pal’s broad daylight murder by Atiq and his henchmen -- in February 2023. Further, few more encounters by the UP police since then have boldly underlined the oft-cited zero-tolerance policy of the Yogi government.

Search This Blog