Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh) [India], April 26 (ANI): A Tibet Times report raises alarm over Chinese government campaigns in Tibetan regions that allegedly pressure nomadic communities to sell livestock to slaughterhouses, threatening traditional livelihoods and cultural practices.
Official notices dated April 6 reportedly show Gade County in Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture deployed about 100 officials across several townships to promote “livestock off-take policies.” Authorities emphasize subsidies and incentives to encourage herders to sell yaks and sheep, holding outreach meetings to boost participation and stabilise rural incomes.
Sources tell Tibet Times these measures form part of wider state interventions that have gradually undermined pastoral life. Policies such as grassland fencing and dividing land by household size are said to have caused pasture shortages, forcing nomads to rent grazing land. Combined with annual livestock slaughter quotas, these pressures are pushing families toward urban relocation. Locals say the measures disrupt economic stability and clash with cultural and religious traditions—especially the practice of freeing animals destined for slaughter—and that many Tibetans resist complying.
The report also describes a web of taxes, subsidies, and insurance schemes tied to livestock ownership. Herders reportedly must provide ear tags, registration certificates, or even animal remains to claim compensation for losses. Taxation varies by area, with per-animal fees, mandatory livestock contributions, and housing and land taxes noted. Insurance programmes, including ones linked to Ping An Insurance, require premiums for death compensation, which critics argue shifts control of livestock and land toward the state.
Tibet Times cites data indicating large-scale relocation policies have affected hundreds of thousands of Tibetans over two decades, warning millions could be impacted. (ANI)
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