Elephant owners decry Rangarajan panel report

THRISSUR: The recommendations of the Dr Mahesh Rangarajan Committee to declare  elephant as national heritage animal will eventually mar the religious and cultural practices that are being followed in the state for the past many centuries, Kerala Elephant Owners Federation members have said.

The members told reporters here that most of the recommendations made by  the committee were impractical and did not reflect the social and cultural values.

“The committee recommends considering banning the use of elephants at public functions. If such a law is enacted, elephants cannot be used for temple rituals such as Ezhunnellippu, seeveli and other Hindu, Muslim and Christian festivals. This would eventually hurt the religious sentiments of the people,” federation president KB Ganeshkumar MLA said.

The federation alleged that the committee had not contacted any elephant owner to hear  his suggestions and opinions.

“We are neither against declaring the elephant as heritage animal nor against ensuring protection of the animal,but, centuries-old traditional and ritual practices will be affected with the implementation of the report,” he said.  The members said the federation would observe October 4, Gajadinam (Elephant Day), as black day would hold a mass convention with the support of religious and festival organisers in Thrissur to stage their demands.

“We have also decided to approach the Union-State Governments and political leaders to request them to look in to the issue,” Ganeshkumar said. Federation general secretary P Sasikumar, members Sunder Menon, Vasudevan Namboothiri, Chandrachoodan Pillai and Raveendran Nair were present.

Meanwhile, the Elephant Lovers’ Association has welcomed the panel’s suggestion to declare the elephant as national heritage animal. The association alleged that the Kerala Elephant Owners’ Association was up against the recommendations as they would not be able to use elephants for commercial purposes.

In the name of rituals, festivals and religious practices, the elephants are actually used for commercial purposes, the association stated in a press release.