Indian Doctors' and Activists' Urgent Appeal to PM Modi In Wake of Covid-19 Pandemic

People, the world over are concerned about the raging covid-19 pandemic as the number of cases have long crossed the 1 crore mark, with more than 5 lakh deaths.
According to a PTI report, many doctors and activists have sent a letter addressed to PM Modi urging him to promote a plant-based diet and also regulate the meat, egg and dairy industries.

There have been many reports and studies that highlight the zoonotic origins of the SARS-CoV2 Virus and it has been widely reported that the virus first made an interspecific jump from bats and/or pangolins to humans, in the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan, China. This is not the first time that a pandemic has been linked to meat, slaughterhouses and meat markets. This is exactly why, keeping public health and the heavy impact of meat on the environment, the letter was written to the prime minister.

This initiative has been supported by animal welfare organisations like People for Animals (PFA), founded and chaired by Smt. Maneka Gandhi, Mercy for Animals and Ahimsa Trust.

Gauri Maulekhi, a prominent PFA activist pointed out, "While Covid-19 has been traced to a meat market in Wuhan, the conditions in such places are similar to any meat production facility and market in India.” This is indeed a worrisome matter, especially since more reports related to a “pandemic potential” swine flu virus have been doing the rounds.

The letter cited studies and researches by well-reputed, leading, international organisations like world economic forum, UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), EAT Lancet that clearly indicate that the manufacturing, production and consumption of animal products is slowly endangering public health and the environment.
This also brings us to the question that can upcoming disease outbreaks be labelled “unprecedented” any more? Because, now it’s all in the open and requires urgent policy-level changes.

“Virulent disease outbreak, including the current global pandemic have been traced to meat markets and production facilities time and again. The current intensive production practices of egg and meat production gravely impact public health,” Gauri Maulekhi said.

Another general aspect of public health that can be linked to eating animal-based products was also mentioned in the said letter by several medical professionals.
“There is ample evidence from research to prove the role of different forms of meat in causation of several chronic diseases such as type-2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, coronary heart failure, stroke etc.,” Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi from Tata Memorial Hospital.
He also went on to say that increased meat consumption accelerates global warming due to increased water consumption, deforestation, water pollution and greenhouse effect.

"Incentives, subsidies, and public distribution schemes should be developed so as to ensure that malpractices in animal farming such as overcrowding, administration of non-therapeutic antibiotics are not encouraged,” the letter read.

Ms. Maulekhi added that the ‘Eat Right’ campaign by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is a great platform to actively make the public aware about the benefits of a plant-based diet for public health, food security and sustainability, and must be used more effectively.

FSSAI and Dr. Harshvardhan, on their social media handles and newspaper advertisements have been recommending a primarily plant-based diet since some time but also promote (animal) milk and its consumption. Now it’s time to go full throttle, isn’t it? (Tell us in the comments below!)

The letter provided examples of countries like Canada and Germany who, by means of their national guidelines, are advising their citizens to limit the consumption of meat, dairy and eggs and increase plant-based foods in their daily diets.

Lets hope our prime minister adopts and endorses a plant-based diet, it would be a huge international statement and, inspiration and motivation for the citizens of India.

Read: Actress Pamela Anderson Urges PM Modi To Promote Veganism In India
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