Mumbai: Much has been said and done over the last several months regarding Halal Certification of products. Now, Maharashtra will get to see something called ‘Malhar Certification’ for mutton. Maharashtra’s minister in charge of fisheries and ports department Nitesh Rane launched the Malhar Certification to provide Hindus and Sikhs access to ‘Jhatka’ meat.
Halal Certification:
Halal Certification originally applied to meat and other food items consumed by Muslims. Islam stipulates that an animal is to be sacrificed in a certain manner before it can be consumed by members of the community. Later, Halal Certification started to be extended to other items. Manufacturers claim that such certification is essential for export of their products to countries where the majority of the population are Muslims.
Jhatka Meat:
This is non-Halal meat. The animal to be eaten is killed with a single stroke or ‘jhatka’, without any rituals. While religion doesn’t restrict a Hindu from having Halal meat, Sikhism does bar community members from consuming meat of any animal that has been ritualistically sacrificed. Gradually, a section of Hindus also started shunning Halal meat. However, there are few options for most as the mutton trade is primarily controlled by members of the Muslim community.
Malhar Certification:
This Certification promises to bring Hindu butchers under a single umbrella, while offering non-Halal meat to Hindus and Sikhs. Rane has said that all associated with Jhatka meat will be Hindus, hence there will be no concept of ritualistic slaughter. Hindus also maintain that the Jhatka method is much more ethical as the animal does not suffer. Such has been the clamour for non-Halal products that Air India had to switch to non-Halal food for Hindu and Sikh passengers recently.
Implications:
Many believe that with Hindus and Sikhs getting access to good quality and certified Jhatka meat, the market will grow. Gradually, the food industry, dealing with cooked meat, will also provide an alternative to consumers, further expanding the market.
