LET THEM EAT RAT

Time for another curious travel alert. If you’re heading for eastern India try to avoid a menu item called “patalbageri,” also known as rat. Indian officials have proposed a plan to massively increase the supply of rats to hotels and restaurants in order to give their poorer citizens a chance to build a business. Vijay Prakash, the welfare minister for Bihar state, has proposed helping the Musahar people -- one of the poorest castes in India -- create rat farms which will grow and sell meat to upmarket hotels, street stalls and restaurants. Rat meat, he promises, is full of protein and tastes better than chicken. "The government has decided to engage the Musahars in commercialisation of rat meat for their overall development," he said. "It will help empower them and change their poor living conditions if the venture is properly designed and clicks." (The Telegraph)