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The Print
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Punjab assembly passes animal welfare bill to resume bullock cart racing. ‘Not cruelty,' says CM Mann
Cabinet minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian introduced the bill saying that similar legislations have been brought about in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. He said the bill to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 was passed by the state assembly in 2019, which was then sent to the President by the governor. 'The President gave assent to the bill in 2024,' said the minister. Khudian said that bullock cart races are among the most popular sports in the Kila Raipur rural sports games which started in 1933. A 2019 Bill brought in by the then Congress government in the state that allowed the resumption of bullock cart races at the famous Kila Raipur Rural games in Ludhiana had received the assent of the President in September 2024. The bill passed by the assembly today widened the 2024 Act beyond Kila Raipur to include all rural games across the state. Chandigarh: The Punjab assembly Friday unanimously passed the 'The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2025' to facilitate the resumption of bullock cart races in rural games across Punjab. The popular sport was banned in 2014 following a Supreme Court ruling. Speaking during the discussion on the bill, Chief minister Bhagwant Mann said that the animals used in the games were taken care of by the owners as if they were children. 'Specially crafted ornaments and decorations are bought to make them look beautiful. They are fed the best of feed and kept healthy,' said Mann, adding that it was wrong to say that these animals are subjected to cruelty. He said just as bullock cart races were banned in Punjab, the Jallikattu sport had been banned in Tamil Nadu. 'The ban on Jallikattu has been lifted. That, too, is a traditional sport involving bulls,' said the CM. Jallikattu is a bull-taming event held during pongal celebrations in Tamil Nadu. The Chief Minister said that rural games have been an integral part of the culture of the state. He said that the bill aims at giving impetus to rural games, particularly bullock cart races and others which were held in every part of the state. Mann said cattle have been an integral part of the agrarian economy of the state and Punjabi farmers have always nurtured cattle as their children. 'Punjabis have always loved games like bullock cart race and the race at Kila Raipur was acclaimed the world over,' he said. He also said the bill will be instrumental in further popularising such games across the state in future without harming the animals. 'Special focus will be laid on protecting the animals and any sort of cruelty against them will not be allowed,' said the CM. The Chief Minister said that the main objective of this bill is to ensure safety measures for animals taking part in sports, with adequate animal veterinary supervision, safety standards, registration/documentation and penalty for violations. He that this bill will also help save indigenous cattle breeds of Punjab, besides promoting traditional sports in the villages. The bill will now be sent to the Governor for approval. The rules framed under the 2024 act have already been approved by the Punjab cabinet. 'Bullock cart races are nothing short of savagery' When contacted Ambika Shukla, a trustee with People for Animals (PFA), told ThePrint that holding bullock cart races was nothing short of 'savagery'. 'It belittles us as a society. It reduces us as human beings,' she said. 'How can bullock cart races be called a sport? A sport involves voluntary participation and contest between competing equals where skill, endurance and strength is tested. These races and nothing but a test of torture. These involve hitting, beating and other forms of torture to make the bull run. Bulls, and for that matter all cattle, are not animals which can run fast. They are slow moving animals and to make them run, all sorts of cruelty is undertaken. So many of them die, if not on the day of a race, then subsequently,' added Shukla. 'Just because as human beings we have the upper hand, do we have to bring it down so heavily and cruelly on animals? Our hand should be that of a benevolent, kind caretaker,' she further said. Previous such bills In May 2023, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court upheld the amendments made by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 that permitted Jallikattu and Kambala and bullock-cart races. The five-judge Bench of the apex court had overruled a judgment of a two-judge SC Bench in 2014. The 2014 judgement had banned the Jallikattu events and all bullock cart races. In 2017, the Tamil Nadu government passed the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act that permitted the sport, while introducing rules to govern the practice including banning use of force, whips, etc., during the conduct of the sport. The Act was challenged in the Supreme Court by bodies working towards prevention of cruelty towards animals. The petitions were referred to a five judge bench in 2018. Addressing a press conference following the end of the assembly's proceedings for the day, Mann said his government had restored the glory of a traditional event. 'The bullock cart races are among the most popular events in rural games. These are not limited to Kila Raipur alone,' said Mann. He met some bullock cart owners outside the assembly who had come to thank him. BJP leader Jaiveer Shergill who met Union Ministers Hardeep Puri last year and Anurag Thakur in 2023 for the resumption of bullock cart races, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ensuring that the 2019 Bill gets the Presidents' assent in 2024. 'Thanks to the efforts of the PM @narendramodi Govt, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2019 received Presidential assent in 2024 paving the way for bullock cart races in Kila Raipur heritage games. Today, the Punjab Govt has moved the 2025 Amendment Bill to allow bullock cart races across the state—a welcome step! Urge the Punjab Govt to ensure that all rural sports, including greyhound racing are regulated transparently and allowed without arbitrary administrative hurdles. Rural games are the heartbeat of Punjab—they deserve protection, not obstruction!' Shergill wrote on X. Thanks to the efforts of the PM @narendramodi Govt, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2019 received Presidential assent in 2024 paving the way for bullock cart races in Kila Raipur heritage games. Today, the Punjab Govt has moved the 2025 Amendment… — Jaiveer Shergill (@JaiveerShergill) July 11, 2025 (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: 'Won't disrupt legislature view': Supreme Court upholds bull-taming sport 'Jallikattu'
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Centre needs to move out 12 LMT grains monthly for smooth paddy procurement: GoM
1 2 Chandigarh: Punjab govt's group of ministers, tasked with ensuring proper procurement of food grains, met on Tuesday and decided to take steps for paddy procurement almost four months in advance. It was pointed out that storage space for 40 LMT (lakh metric tonnes) of food grains will be created by Dec. While urging the Centre to ensure regular movement of grains from Punjab's godowns, the ministers noted that at least 12 LMT of grains need to be moved monthly to accommodate the new paddy crop. The ministers said that proposals for the construction of godowns with 46 LMT space were sent by a high-level committee of the state govt to the Centre. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is personally taking up the issue with the Centre, they said. The group of ministers was recently constituted to supervise the procurement of wheat and paddy in the state. It is led by Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian, with Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, and Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal as members. You Can Also Check: Chandigarh AQI | Weather in Chandigarh | Bank Holidays in Chandigarh | Public Holidays in Chandigarh Paddy procurement in the state will begin on October 1 and last until mid-November. The ministers said efforts were on to create 40 LMT of space by December this year. Furthermore, around 82-83 LMT of space would be created by the end of June next year. Khudian assured that all genuine issues of the millers, arhtiyas, and farmers would be resolved, and the issues requiring intervention of the Union Government/FCI will be taken up with them at the highest level. He further said that the state govt was trying to ensure ample space for storage. He added that over 100 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of rice was already delivered, with a projected total of 117 LMT by July 31. Kataruchak said that nearly 175-180 LMT of paddy is expected to arrive in the mandis in the coming Kharif Marketing Season, and the state govt was making requisite arrangements for the proper upkeep of the same. M
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Punjab records 20% rise in area under cotton
Chandigarh: Punjab has witnessed a 20% increase in the area under cotton, rising from 2.49 lakh acres last year to 2.98 lakh acres this year, claimed agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian on Monday. Chairing a meeting to review the ongoing kharif season and departmental projects at Kisan Bhawan, Khudian said Fazilka district was leading in cotton acreage with 60,121 hectares, followed by Mansa (27,621 hectares), Bathinda (17,080 hectares), and Sri Muktsar Sahib (13,240 hectares). He said Punjab govt would provide a 33% subsidy on cotton seeds to growers, with over 49,000 farmers already registered online. He directed chief agriculture officers to ensure all cotton growers completed online registration by June 15. He also expressed satisfaction over the response to maize cultivation, with over 54,000 acres already sown in just nine days since sowing commenced on June 1. "State govt will give an incentive of Rs 17,500 per hectare to farmers for shifting from paddy to Kharif maize under a pilot project covering Bathinda, Sangrur, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, and Kapurthala districts. The project aims to bring 12,000 hectares under Kharif maize, promoting agricultural diversification and groundwater conservation. To facilitate this transition, the state govt has appointed 200 Kisan Mitras to guide and encourage farmers," he said.
Hindustan Times
09-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Chilli processing plant to come up in Abohar by Sept: Punjab agri minister
The Punjab government will commission a ₹9.50 crore chilli processing plant in Abohar by September, state agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said. Being established by the Punjab Agri Export Corporation Ltd (PAGREXCO) over one acre of land, the plant will have an installed capacity of five tonnes per hour, the minister said. The area under chilli cultivation in the state has been increasing annually, with farmers being encouraged to grow high-yielding varieties suitable for processing, he said. As of 2024, Punjab's chilli cultivation spanned 10,614 hectares, the highest recorded area in recent years, yielding 21,416 metric tonnes, the minister said. Ferozepur district leads in chilli production, followed by Patiala, Malerkotla, Sangrur, Jalandhar, Tarn Taran, Amritsar, SBS Nagar and Hoshiarpur. Ferozepur's average yield of approximately 19 metric tonnes (MT) per hectare showcases the region's efficient farming practices, Khuddian said. PAGREXCO directly procures chillies from farmers and aggregators, leveraging a well-established marketing network, he added. The corporation is a major exporter of red chilli paste from Punjab, including to the Middle East and African countries. Chilli cultivation has emerged as a vital component of Punjab's agricultural diversification, providing farmers with a lucrative alternative to traditional crops such as wheat and paddy, the minister said. The state's favourable agro-climatic conditions have strategically positioned Punjab as a key player in chilli production and processing, capitalising on new opportunities in the agricultural sector, he added.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Punjab offers Rs 17,500/hectare incentive for paddy-to-maize shift on 12,000 hectare
Chandigarh: To promote farm diversification and check depleting groundwater, Punjab govt has unveiled a plan to diversify 12,000 hectares of paddy to kharif maize this year. Farmers adopting maize cultivation will receive a financial incentive of Rs 17,500 per hectare. Punjab agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian on Wednesday said that six districts — Bathinda, Sangrur, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, and Kapurthala — will spearhead the pilot project, targeting 12,000 hectares for paddy-to-maize diversification. Khudian said the state govt has also appointed 200 kisan mitras (friends of the farmer) to promote the initiative. The decision to incentivise maize cultivation is aligned with the need to promote water-efficient crops and enhance farmers' income in Punjab. Maize, a nutritious and versatile crop, requires less water in comparison to paddy. Moreover, the crop's versatility in terms of its uses, from food to animal feed and starch content, offers a wider market and income potential for farmers, he said. "By diversifying our crops, we can improve soil health, reduce water consumption, and create a more resilient agricultural system. This will not only benefit our farmers but also is a crucial step towards achieving our goal of sustainable agriculture in Punjab," said Khudian. Basant Garg, administrative secretary (agriculture), said kharif maize had already been sown in 1,500 hectares. The state's heavy reliance on paddy cultivation, a water-intensive crop, has put immense strain on groundwater resources, leading to concerns about the long-term sustainability of agriculture.
