ID Cards For Cattle To Prevent Smuggling
KRISHNAGAR - In an attempt to prevent Indian cattle from being smuggled into Bangladesh, photo-identity cards have been introduced, with mixed reactions from the farmers.
30 October 2007
2 minute read
While a section of farmers in both Nadia and Murshidabad districts, which are near the Indo-Bangladesh border, welcomed the initiative taken by the Border Security Force authorities in fighting the massive smuggling problem, many farmers felt aggrieved about “unfair” treatment meted out to them by BSF personnel after they failed to bear the expense of having their cattle photographed.
One of many villagers, (who asked not to be named) residing in Patharghata, Nalda and Natna Border Outposts (BOPs) in Tehatta, Nadia, said: “To us poor farmers photographing our cattle means we have to take time off work. We earn barely Rs 50 or Rs 70 after a whole day's work. For just one photo of cattle, photographers from Tehatta or Chapra charge us Rs 100. If BSF authorities arrange to bear the cost of taking the photographs, we will certainly come forward to have our cattle get IDs.”
Many villagers in the bordering areas of Karimpur, Chapra and Krishnaganj areas, however, said they have voluntarily agreed to the identity cards to avoid harassment by the BSF and police who often raid villages in search of cattle that could be smuggled to Bangladesh.
BSF authorities in Nadia and Murshidabad districts have been working independently for the last few months to implement this programme ~ without help from either the local panchayats or local police ~ though the project was launched a year and a half ago.
