Bhubaneswar: Cases of cow slaughter and smuggling have significantly increased in Odisha over the past five years, prompting the state government to intensify measures against offenders, Minister of State for Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Gokulananda Mallik informed the Assembly on Wednesday.
Responding to a query on steps taken to curb the rise in cattle smuggling, Mallik revealed that the number of registered cases had shown a dramatic increase between 2019 and 2023. According to official records, 139 cases were registered in 2019, escalating to 267 in 2020, 371 in 2021, 386 in 2022, and reaching a peak of 620 in 2023.
Mallik described the surge as a concerning indicator of the challenges in enforcing cattle protection laws in the state.
To address this, the government has established an inter-ministerial committee, chaired by the Deputy Chief Minister and including representatives from the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment as well as the Energy Department. The committee aims to develop guidelines to promote dairy farming and strengthen cow protection measures.
The Minister also mentioned a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an organization seeking enhanced safety measures for cattle, noting that the matter is currently sub-judice.
The growing number of cases underscores the need for stricter enforcement and comprehensive strategies to safeguard cattle in Odisha.
