Just ahead of the jallikattu season, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has framed guidelines for conducting the bull-taming sport in various parts of the State so as to ensure that the activity is monitored in line with the “norms laid down by authorities, including the Supreme Court.”
From the age of the bull to be tamed and the size of the vaadivasal (through which the bull would enter the arena) to the minimum time provided for the bull to rest, new aspects have been incorporated into the existing guidelines. “We are including various norms laid down by the Supreme Court and the State government for conducting jallikattu . We have framed comprehensive guidelines,”AWBI chairperson S.P. Gupta told The Hindu .
The guidelines would apply not only to jallikattu, but also to similar events such as manjaviratu, vadamadu and erudhuvidumvizha held in the State.
The organisers of the event should inform the District Collector in writing about the schedule and obtain the approval. The details of those participating are to be registered, and the ‘Committee on Jallikattu ’ – to be constituted by the Collector with Revenue, Animal Husbandry, Police and Health Department officials – would ensure that the activity is held as per the norms. “The AWBI would also send its committees to visit and monitor the activities,” Mr. Gupta said.
To ensure the safety of animals, the Board has made it mandatory that the bulls are given rest for 20 minutes and are provided space of 60 sq.ft. each before they are brought into the arena. “Adequate feed and water shall be provided to the bulls and they shall be allowed to perform their normal physiological functions. The owner of the bull shall always be by the side of the bull to assure the psychological safety and security of the bull,” states one of the guidelines.
The arena would have to be at least 50 sq. mt. and the bulls have to be embraced by the participants within this 50 sq. mt. area. The participants would not be permitted to stand in front of the bulls.
“They shall also not be permitted to block the exit way of the bulls. The participants shall be permitted only to embrace the bulls by their hump and run along with the bull for 15 metres or for 30 seconds or sustain three jumps of the bull. The participants shall not hold on to the tail or horns using their hands or restrict the movement of the bulls by holding on to the bulls’ legs. The participants violating these guidelines shall be liable to be debarred from participating further in the event,” states another guideline.
