JAIPUR: Rajasthan animal husbandry department has sent a proposal to the cabinet for removing the permit of collector, which is necessary for inter-state transportation of camels.
This is a long-pending demand of camel herders and breeders in the state, which they feel is necessary to improve the declining camel population.
In the Rajasthan Camel (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation of Temporary Migration or Export) Bill, 2015, any person who wants to take a camel out of state for agriculture, breeding or to participate in animal fairs, has to get permission from the district collector.
This has impacted the Rebari community, who are traditional camel breeders and herders, who take long tours for grazing camels in other states. Rebari are a nomadic community and have little knowledge of government mechanism, which makes it difficult for them to get a permit. Hence, camel transportation ban impacted their livelihood and they are now abandoning them.
Arushi Malik, secretary to the government of Rajasthan animal husbandry department said, “A sub-committee that was formed to study this issue has sent a proposal to the cabinet to remove the ban. This will empower the people in the state and help improve camel population. Once cabinet approves it, the proposal will be sent to the President and later will be placed in the next assembly session.”
In the decadal livestock census published in 2019, there has been a 34% decline in camel population in the state since 2012. This is said to be a cause of concern and transportation ban is said to be the reason for it.
Hanwant Singh, a member of Lok Hit Pashupalak Sansthan, said due to the transportation ban, Rebari community has been hit the most.
“Rebari cannot take them to Gujarat or other states for grazing nor for any fairs. The importance of camel as desert transport has already been lost. Now, camels are sold for Rs 5,000 in Rajasthan instead of Rs 20,000. We really hope this proposal is approved or else there will be a day when Rajasthan won’t have any camels,” said Singh.
