Muslims earn "peanuts" from meat business, even as India is on way to become world's largest exporter: Study
A well-known online publication, published from Malegaon, Maharashtra, has claimed in a recent study that Muslims earn "peanuts from animal slaughter in India", and the main gainers in the meat business are Hindu businessmen. Carried out by a team which works for ummid.com, the study says that India is already "on track to become world's largest bovine meat exporter", and the general perception the Muslims have gained from the trade is false.
"It is actually the government and non-Muslims who are benefiting the most from about 4.5 billion US dollar animal slaughter business", the study says, adding, "Except for Allana Sons, a 1969 company which has a major share in frozen meat export from India, and few other smaller players who are Muslims, majority of meat exporters and owners of modern abattoirs, and those associated with other related industries like bone, leather, horn, farmers, transporters, animal blood and other raw materials are mainly non-Muslims."
Contending that this fact has been "acknowledged by Hindutva groups", the study has put a "big question mark" over the statement by Union minister Maneka Gandhi, who has alleged that "revenue earned from the animal slaughter business is used for terrorism". the study comes in the wake of Maharashtra government's ban on bulls, bullocks and calves slaughter, ninth by an Indian state.
Based on interviews with beef traders and organisations working for them and going through the available records and data, the study says, "Animals are purchased in over 95% cases from farmers, majority of them being non-Muslims. Most of the transporters who ferry animals and meat from one place to another before and after slaughter are also not Muslims."
It adds, "Except for direct consumption, where also Muslims and non-Muslims both are at par in terms of taking benefits, in rest all associated business, including meat export, bone crushing and powder industry, leather industry, horn processing industry, blood processing, animal fat and soap industry, except for few exceptions, each one is dominated entirely by non-Muslims."
Giving examples, the study says, "Some prominent names are Arabian Export of Deepak Tijori, Al Kabeer Exports run by Atul Subberwal, Al-Noor Export of Ajay Sud, Mahesh Jagadale and Co, Sujata Bones of MK Deore, Dode Industries, Fine Exports, SK Leather, Ramesh Juneja & Sons, Bharat Leather, Woodland, Raymonds, Datta Soap, BS International, Sixth Sense, Natural Craft, Bounty Fashion Export, Kochhar Brothers, Ravi Exports, Kalia International, and Hindustan Unilever Ltd."
Saying that all them are "engaged in beef and the business of associated raw materials and products", the study points out, "It is also found that some of those associated with the trade have different names and identities for different countries and regions. Like, Al Kabeer is 'Samurai' in Japan, 'Falcon Foods' in the UK, and 'Tayebat Al Emarat' in the UAE. It also owns other brands like Tabarruk, Cascade and Coral Reef."
India became the world's biggest buffalo meat exporter in 2012, ahead of Brazil, says the study, adding, "A report by the US Department of Agriculture says buffaloes are inexpensive to keep. This makes their meat a dollar a kg cheaper than beef. The Indian government has invested heavily in abattoirs. Recently released Ministry of Food Processing data showed that India exported 1.89 million tonnes of beef in 2012-2013, which is a 50 per cent increase over five years ago."
The study further says, "Among Indian states, Uttar Pradesh (UP) has emerged as the biggest exporter of buffalo meat, followed by Punjab and Maharashtra. Besides having the country's largest buffalo population, UP also has the highest number of abattoirs- cum-meat processing export units. The state has 317 registered slaughterhouses and, in addition, 24 export-oriented units for buffalo meat. Of the total Indian carabeef exports, 67% originates from this state."
As for Mumbai in Maharashtra, it has "a distinction of having Deonar abattoir – Asia's largest", the study says adding, "It has a capacity of about 4000 animals and recruit over 1200 people besides 30 medical professionals." As for Gujarat, "projected as a model Hindu state, the trade there has flourished under the kind protection of the state."
Thus, "data compiled by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry from Gujarat's Pollution Control Board reveals that meat production in the State, when Prime Minister Modi was its chief minister, more than doubled in 10 years. It was the time when Modi was taunting the Congress-led UPA of promoting 'Pink Revolution',", the study points out.
"Gujarat produced 22,000 tonnes of meat in 2010-11 against 10,600 tonnes of meat in 2001-02. During the same period, India's meat production grew from 18,59,430 tonnes to 48,69,000 tonnes, or by 163%. With 39 abattoirs, which slaughters over 1,000 animals a day, Gujarat is amongst the top 10 States in India in terms of the number of slaughterhouses", it adds.
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