Thousands lose jobs as Haryana govt cracks whip on meat shops
At least 100 such shops have been shut in each district; small shopowners affected
KARNAL: The BJP-led state government’s decision to close illegal meat shops in Haryana has rendered thousands of people jobless as at least 100 such shops have been shut in each district of the state, as per sources.
The crackdown has mostly affected small shop owners, who do not have pucca shops or other facilities such as fridge, glass doors, proper ventilation, besides a valid licence.
Sanjay Kumar, who used to run a small meat shop in Radaur of Yamunanagar district, says, “I had to leave my meat shop which I had been running for the past 15 years. Now, I don’t have any other source of livelihood. How will I provide for my two children and old parents.”
Kaka Singh, another meat seller who had to close his shop, says, “They should have given us some time to get the licence and fulfil other conditions, as it is very difficult to meet their conditions with a daily income of ₹300-500.”
“Also, they are not providing a new licences even when all the pre-conditions for licence renewal are being met,” he added.
BOON FOR A SELECT FEW
While many are now finding it difficult to make two ends meet, the decision has come as boon for a select few who have valid licences. In the absence of much competition, the existing few shops are seeing an increase in profits.
“Now that there are only nine shops with a valid licence in Ladwa of Kurukshetra district, which has a population of over 20,000 people, our earnings have shot up,” says Raghubir Singh, a meat shop owner.
“This shop was opened by my grandfather about 35 years ago and this our third generation in this business. We have never seen so much increase in sale,” he adds.
The Manohar Lal Khattar government had decided to impose ban on illegal meat shops following on the footsteps of BJP-government in the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh.
Though government officials say that the ban has affected about 700 shopkeepers, the number is likely to be much higher as even in small towns, the number of affected people is between 15-20 and about 130 such shops have been closed in Khattar’s constituency Karnal alone. “We do not know the exact number of affected people as we do not have their records but steps are being taken to set up meat markets and slaughterhouses, wherever required to rehabilitate the affected people,” said a senior official of Haryana Urban Local Bodies department.
MANY SHOPOWNERS CLAIM ADMN NOT PROVIDING FRESH LICENCES EVEN AFTER THEY FULFILLED THE PRECONDITIONS