The concern raised by the public on the malpractices indulged by the butchers especially in Dimapur and Kohima continues with the departments concerned turning a deaf ear. It starts with the usual import of either diseased or medically unfit for eating from outside the state that many a times bypass the veterinary officials. Then the consumer further has to undergo the frustration of getting lesser amount of meat than what was actually paid as a result of the butcheres using improper scales, tampered weights and other malpractices while weighing. The most current protest came from the Nagaland Voluntary Consumer Organisation on the issue.
The reason why this issue needs to be addressed is because the meat industry is quite big and has substantial economic implications in the state. In Nagaland livestock imports were worth about Rs. 220 crores in 2010-11 and is expected to have increased to Rs. 230 crores at present. However in every kilo of purchase, the consumers are many a times provided inferior quality meat along with lesser quantity of than what was paid for. With such levels of consumption in the state, a few rupees of loss per kilo due to malpractices, the loss incurred by the consumers will sum up to a few crores in a year.
There are issues of high cost of feeds in the state and is one reason blamed for the high cost of livestock from the farmers. Even though livestock feeds are mostly composed of by-products from other flour mills and oil mills it is quite dear in the open market in Nagaland. Some have also cited the multiple ‘taxation’ by armed groups as a reason . This results in the high cost of livestock reared in the state before it ends in the abattoirs and butcheries but at the same time the prices control cells of the Municipal/Town Councils regulates the price of the end product. Ultimately the margin of profit for the retailers/butcher is quite low. Still it is no reason to flout rules.
However, the current state of affairs indicates complete flouting of rules and negligence by the departments concerned. The Municipalities and Town Councils need to decrease the price of livestock feeds and also the price of livestock so that the retailers have a better profit margin. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services need to ensure better enforcement so that no diseased/unhealthy livestock in imported/sold in the state as it directly affects the health of the people in the state. The department of Legal Metrology & Consumer Protection need to be more proactive and periodic checking has to be conducted and book the culprits as per the law. Even though its name itself is self explanatory the department is found wanting many a times; introduction of electronic scales for all the butcheries as the other shops will be a good starter.
Finally the municipalities and town councils need to be trained on price control mechanism based on scientific studies so as to avoid any unforeseen ramifications on the economy. The government can regulate this sector in the long run with an added tax too. It is one sector that the state can earn high revenue but till now it is yet to take a strong foothold and the state continues to rely on other states to meet its demands. For a low populated state that has fewer high volume consumption compared to other states it still is unable to tap the potential of the one sector that is in big demand in the state and rising.
