HFU Questions Government Over Animal Shelter, Claims It Was Kept Hidden

Nongpoh, September 18: The Hill Farmers Union (HFU) Central Body and the Hill Farmers Union of Ri Bhoi Unit on Friday strongly criticised the state government for allegedly concealing information about an animal shelter in Ri Bhoi.

The HFU leaders said that during the recently concluded Autumn Session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, the government had stated that no animal checking checkpoint was in place. However, they claimed that the union has now discovered an Animal Shelter at 22 Mile, Nar-ang, in Ri Bhoi district.

The animal shelter was inspected by a team led by HFU Central Body General Secretary Alfondbirth Kharsyntiew, along with Umling Block president Saiberius Inghi, secretary Bairoy L. Mawnai and local pig farmers.

Kharsyntiew said the union was surprised that the government had allegedly concealed the existence of the animal shelter even in the Assembly after the matter was raised by MLAs.

He said the union learned about the shelter through an Expression of Interest notification issued by the Chief Executive Officer of the state implementing agency, the Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, inviting competent organisations to operate the facility.

“If the government genuinely wants to implement an animal checking checkpoint, particularly for pigs coming from outside the state amid the disease outbreak, the Animal Shelter already constructed at 22 Mile is fully suitable for the purpose,” Kharsyntiew said.

Also read: Shyntor Festival to Spotlight Village’s Development Needs

The union leaders also alleged that the government was neglecting farmers and pig rearers, despite the issue having already been raised with the Veterinary authorities in Ri Bhoi and discussed with the Chief Minister.

They questioned the government’s reluctance to establish the checking facility when an Animal Shelter is already available in the district.

Also watch:

The leaders warned that if the government continued to ignore their demands, they would mobilise farmers and pig rearers to gather at the site and protest against what they described as injustice towards the farming community.

They also remarked that people often pray and remember God before eating food or meat, and urged the government to remember the farmers who produce the food they consume.