Chicken, Mutton and Eggs in Ration Shops?

Pune, Feb 28, 2020: Niti Aayog has proposed the distribution of Chicken, Mutton and eggs at government ration shops at subsidized rates from 1 April 2020. But this is a health wise and socially risky decision. Hence the government should think carefully and must not take this decision, Asks vegetarianism activist Dr. Kalyan Gangwal, Founder, Sarvajeev Mangal Pratishthan.

Dr. Kalyan Gangwal said, “In the vision document presented by Niti Aayog on 18 December, 2019, it is said that People of India should be able to buy chicken, mutton and eggs on subsidized rates. Also people below the poverty line should get nutritious food at affordable prices. It is being told in the news that the central government is thinking about making non veg food items available at public distribution stores or ration shops. It is indeed good and essential to provide dry goods at these stores. But is it possible to provide chicken, mutton and eggs at affordable prices at the same stores? There are more than 5.5 lac ration shops in India. Among which there are 52000 shops in Maharashtra. Around 23 Cr Indian citizens get the benefit of this public distribution system. This is the largest public distribution system in the world. If this decision sustains it will cost around 1 lac 84 thousand crore rupees. Is it practically possible to provide chicken, mutton and eggs at these shops? And is it necessary? Government should rethink and try to find answers for these and other questions. This decision needs a little more brainstorming.”

“Is it possible to provide fresh chicken mutton to these shops for distribution on a daily basis? Or the government is thinking about providing refrigerators to these distribution centers which are more than 5.5 lacs in number. If not, what will happen to the left overs? If the left over non veg food items are given to the buyers, won’t it create health issues? Will the government take the leftovers back? How many new Kattalkhanas have to set up to provide chicken and mutton to these ration shops? What will be the effect of this decision on the government treasury? What about the effect on the environment? There are various Indian Societies which are purely vegetarian. Would they buy ration from the same shops which also distribute chicken and mutton?” asked Dr. Gangwal.

Few days back when prices of onion became so high that it has become nearly unaffordable, the central government asked every state to sell onions at affordable prices in ration shops. At that time no one implemented these orders. Considering this, it is asked among people that for whose benefit this decision is being taken. Practicality of this decision should be checked. Wouldn’t it cause loss of our livestock? And will it be any good for natural balance? Many such questions must be addressed.

Is it actually true that only Non-vegetarian food is nutritious? Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ramnath Kovind both is pure vegetarian and still they are totally healthy and fit. There are various nutritious options available for vegetarians like banana, peanuts, coconut and many other fruits and vegetables. If the government provides subsidies on this vegetarian yield Instead of providing subsidies on chicken, mutton and eggs, not only will everyone get nutritious food but it will also increase the income of farmers. We have the largest vegetarian population in the world. Our vegetarian cuisine is popular around the world. There can’t be any other substitute for nutritious vegetarian cuisine. The countries which were dependent on non-veg, have now understood the importance of vegetarianism. Researchers working at the UN have warned against the non-veg if we want to save earth from global warming, otherwise within a few years the temperature on the earth will rise to the degrees which would be unbearable.

It’s everyone’s personal choice if they want to eat non veg or not? But it seems that it is not practically possible to provide chicken mutton at public ration shops. Maybe the government can transfer the amount of subsidy to the bank accounts of the people who want to buy non veg food items. Hence the Government and Niti Aayog should again brainstorm on this proposal of Niti Aayog. Until then we all must collectively oppose this decision

Nowadays, because of carnivorous many diseases are entering the human body. Viruses of deadly diseases like mad cow disease, Ebola, swine flu originate from carnivorous. Recently Coronavirus, a serious medical emergency, not only in China but around the world. It all started from the city Wuhan in China which is known for its market of all types of non-veg food items. There is a tide of vegetarianism around the world. Everyone is opting for a vegetarian lifestyle fearing the diseases. All expert doctors around the globe are asking to turn vegetarian to avoid the risks of heart diseases or cancer. Whereas in our country we are campaigning for carnivorous, which is fundamentally wrong? There is a close relation between carnivorous and addictions. Hence no vegetarian individuals can turn towards addictions. So, the government should not take this decision which is self-destructive. If the government accepts the proposal of Niti Aayog, all vegetarian people will protest against it on upcoming 6 April (Mahavir Jayanti).