Local tamers banned from Alagumalai jallikattu event

Tirupur: The organisers of a jallikattu event at Alagumalai here have banned local bull tamers from participating in the event.
As many as 500 bulls and 600 bull tamers from across the state have registered for the event, which will be conducted on February 3. “During the registration process, we did not allow people from 20sqkm radius to take part in the event. Jallikattu is very new to the region and to become a good tamer, proper training is needed. We did not want to take the risk,” president of the Alagumalai Jallikattu Welfare Association S Palanisamy told TOI.

All the tamers are mostly from the districts, where Jallikattu is popular. “People from the central and southern districts have a natural talent for bull taming as they grew up watching the event. So, we have given permission to them,” Palanisamy said.

The organisers have arranged insurance cover to bulls and tamers at a cost of Rs 1.75lakh. The New India Insurance will provide the cover, under which the family of a tamer will get Rs 1lakh if he dies. Bull owners will get Rs 15lakh if anything happens to the animal.

The state government had directed the organisers of jallikattu events to ensure that bulls and tamers receive at least some compensation in case of an accident. Earlier, the organisers were directed to make Rs 5lakh caution deposit so that it could be used to provide compensation. “In the recent years, group insurance cover was brought in as an alternative. In some venues this year, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana has been implemented with premium of Rs 12. But it would not be fruitful in case of death.” Palanisamy said.

“Once we submit an undertaking for taking responsibility of the event, insurance policy, approval of the public works department on the safety of the arrangements and the animal husbandry department’s certificate on the health of bulls, the government will issue order for the event. We expect as many as 1lakh people will turn up to witness it,” he added.