Maungdaw, Arakan State: The Animal Husbandry and Medical Department has been collecting money from farmers of Maungdaw Township since April 10, for an injection to be given to cattle, said a local trader on condition of anonymity.

The two departments printed leaflets and distributed it to rural areas and also sent copies to the Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) office, District Peace and Development Council (DPDC) office and Burma’s border security force (Nasaka) offices, including Nasaka Headquarters in Kyikan Pyin (Kawar Bill).

In the leaflets, the departments said farmers had to pay Kyat 500 per cows and if anyone keeps animals without giving it injection, he/she will be fined Kyat 5,000 per or will be sentenced to six months in prison, said a local farmer.

Animal Husbandry personnel and those of the Medical Department are injecting cattle to prevent diseases. But, villagers do not want to give injections to their cattle as they have to pay.  If a farmer has 10 cows, he will have to pay Kyat 5,000, which is a burden for them, said a local elder.  

If the government wants to help villagers or farmers, why does it take money from them? In Bangladesh, the government never takes money from the public when villagers and farmers are in trouble, said a village elder who was a refugee in a Bangladesh camp.

‘It is nothing, but a lucrative business for the authorities’, said a schoolteacher.