Travel permit denial gives Kerala elephants Maha relief

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_travel-permit-denial-gives-kerala-elephants-maha-relief_1763456

Seven elephants from Kerala were saved from a tiring Diwali after the state forest department denied permission for transporting the pachyderms all the way to Maharashtra for a three-day festival.

Held from November 9 to 11 at Dombivli, Mumbai Pooram’s main attraction, as displayed on the website by the organisers, was to be a parade of seven gold-caparisoned elephants amid a lavish display of fireworks.

State forest department sources said the organisers had not sought permission for the procession from the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). A statutory body under the ministry of environment and forests, AWBI has been formed to monitor animal welfare rights in India.

“The organisers never approached us for the requisite permissions. Parading elephants transported from up to 1,500km amid noisy fireworks would clearly have been a violation of the Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2001, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the Animal Transport Rules,” said Chinny Krishna, vice-chairman, AWBI.

SH Naqvi, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), said, “In inter-state events such as these permissions from state ministries, in this case Kerala and Maharashtra, are required. The organisers were not granted permission to enter the state border as they had not sought the necessary clearances from the Centre.”

Besides instructions from AWBI to not grant permission to the organisers, the state forest department had received up to eight petitions from animal rights activists condemning the transport of these elephants from Kerala to Maharashtra.

The organisers, however, said that the state forest department had given permission for transporting five elephants to Mumbai last year, but it denied permission this year.

“We were able to transport elephants last year without AWBI’s permission. This year, we were informed that inter-state transport of elephants won’t be allowed. This is unfair; we are animal lovers too. We take the requisite care, we make sure that the elephants don’t travel more than 200km at a stretch. They are fed properly and there is a veterinary doctor on call at all times during the travel,” said Bhupesh Babu, a Vashi-based builder and one of the organisers.

'Ustad Hotel' fails to get Animal Welfare Board of India nod

ALAPPUZHA: The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) refused to give no objection certificates to two films -Anwar Rasheed's 'Ustad Hotel' and M A Nishad's 'No 66 Madhura Bus'.

The AWBI refused to give NOC to these films following the complaints filed by Heritage Animal Task Force (HATF), an animal lovers' forum with the AWBI. It will adversely affect the release of these two Malayalam films.

"The directors of these two films used animals in their films without the pre-shoot permission of the AWBI. As per the Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2001, shooting with animals should be undertaken only after getting pre-shoot permission from AWBI," said V K Venkitachalam, secretary of HATF.

In the film 'Ustad Hotel', director Anward Rasheed used a camel in a song scene without the permission of the AWBI.

When HATF lodged a complaint with the AWBI in this connection, the director and the producer of the film approached the AWBI for its permission. However, the AWBI refused to give the NOC saying that using camel in Kerala for films could not be permitted because a camel cannot live in Kerala due to the climate here.

However, Anwar Rasheed told TOI that the film would be released on June 29 at any cost and they did not have any plan to remove the scene in which a camel was used.

The film 'Ustad Hotel' stars Dulquar Salman, Nitya Menon and Thilakan among others.

"People and media with some vested interests are trying to stop the release of my film. Now there is no problem for the release of my film and it will be released on June 29," he said.

M A Nishad has also used a captive elephant in the film without the pre-shoot certificate from the board.

Following this, the AWBI refused to issue NOC and directed M A Nishad and the film's producer to produce the ownership certificate of the elephant from the wildlife department.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Ustad-Hotel-fails-to-get-Animal-Welfare-Board-of-India-nod/articleshow/14348050.cms

Government Vets to be Trained to Conduct Animal Birth Control- Anti-Rabies Programmes

NEW DELHI: A number of organizations are collaborating on a round of training sessions geared toward helping professionals tackle rabies. The programme, VetTrain, formulated by Australian NGO, Vets Beyond Borders will be held on the premises of Jeevasharam Animal Welfare Foundation, in Rajokri, from June 18 to June 30. The programme will be supported by the Australian government's AusAID, University of Queensland Veterinary School and the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI).

The first round of the ongoing programme which will cover the entire country, will include government veterinary doctors from Punjab. About eight veterinarians, 10 para-veterinarians, six dog-catchers and programme managers for Animal Birth Control measures will be attending. Animal birth control - Anti-Rabies, or ABC-AR, "is one of the best ways to control rabies," says Dr. Vinod Sharma, chief officer, Jeevashram.

But just operating on the stray dog won't help, says Sharma, "The municipal bodies must take care of garbage management, colonies must learn how to take care of street dogs and also learn how important it is for their own pets to be spayed and neutred."

Dog sterilization and mass vaccination are methods recommended by the World Health Organization(WHO) ; in India, the AWBI is responsible for implementing ABC-AR programmes. The training will help in "upskilling" ABC-AR personnel to the AWBI's standard operating procedures so they are equipped to tacking this public health issue in their home states.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Government-Vets-to-be-Trained-to-Conduct-Animal-Birth-Control-Anti-Rabies-Programmes/articleshow/14241873.cms

Face the music if you shoot animals illegally

Animal Welfare Board Of India is seeking help of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to take action against filmmakers who film beasts without obtaining permission from it

Tired of seeing animals being used, and often misused in films, the Animal Welfare Board Of India (AWBI) has decided to come down hard on errant filmmakers who take liberties with the law, and use animals in their productions without getting the necessary sanctions and paperwork in place. 

Take permission
The board has decided that it will not issue non-objection certificates (NOCs) to filmmakers who take footage of animals for their productions without taking permission from them. Not only that, it has decided to take legal action against them. The board has also lodged a complaint with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry about the errant producers who do not intimate the board before using footage of animals in their films.

As per the Performing Animals (Registration) Rules 2001 under the PCA Act 1960, producers of films in which animals are used should apply to the AWBI and furnish details of animals to be used, with details about their performance sequences, and their ownership certificates.

Officialspeak
However, the board grumbled that many violated the law. Chinny Krishna, vice chairman of AWBI, said, "Maharashtra is the only state where producers flout the law so frequently. While some don't bother to take prior permission from the board, there are others who inform the board after the shooting is over. Others furnish wrong information and mistreat the animals. We have registered a complaint with the Information and Broadcast minister Ambika Soni regarding the same, and hopefully we will be able to tighten the law against the violators soon."

Krishna added that the board would take legal action against all those who were violating the law, explaining, "Shooting with animals can only be done after formal approval is obtained from AWBI in the form of an NOC. This can be achieved only after informing the board the date, time and exact location of film shooting, well before it is done. Not only this, applicants must submit the CDs with the signature and seal of the film company on them, while applying for the NOC. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse."

Legal notices served General Kharb, chairman of AWBI, said, "We have served legal notices or sought
explanation from many filmmakers on various grounds. We have been constantly receiving complaints that
many films released have never taken permission from the board before filming the animals."

Handle with care
The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has imposed a blanket ban on the use of animals like lions, tigers, panthers and monkeys in films. While shooting with other animals too, filmmakers will have to be careful. No animal can be used for scenes that are shot on hard surfaces (like tarred roads) or near barbed wires or explosives. Animals also cannot be made to travel for more than eight hours at a stretch.

Kashmir dogs to go under knife for castration, hysterectomy soon

Under pressure from civil society and shaken by increasing number of dog bites in Kashmir, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation has decided to castrate male dogs and perform ovario-hysterectomy operation on female dogs. "The animal birth control (ABC) programme for management of stray dog population will be started in the first fortnight of April. Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology and Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) will be part of it," said Srinagar municipality commissioner Ghulam Nabi Qasba.

While the male dogs will be subjected to castration operation and anti-rabies immunization with post-operative period for 2-3 days, female dogs will be subjected to ovario-hysterectomy operation and anti-rabies immunization with minimum post-operative period of 3 days, said Qasba.

The municipality's urgency has come in the backdrop of Kashmir dog menace hitting global headlines as the population touches 10 lakh in the valley. According to the latest government figures, there are more than 50,000 dogs in Srinagar with population of 14 lakh. The valley has reported more than 25,000 bites in the last year. A boy died in Srinagar earlier this year when dogs bit him over 100 times.

Facing threats from civil society take law into their hand, the municipality is fast working on an operational operation theatre at Shuhama's Teaching Veterinary Clinical Services Complex in Srinagar."It will be utilized for conduct of surgery on stray dogs in the first instance. By mid of June all the surgeries will be conducted in this facility," said Qasba.

An amount of Rs 5.25 lakh has been earmarked for the project. A dog catching vehicle is also being made available to start catching stray dogs in two zones with priority to the 'Red Areas', where dog bite cases have been reported in the past. "The catching of the stray dogs will be done in the wee hours of the morning and late evening in order to avoid public interference," said Qasba.

The authorities plan to put up male and female dogs in kennels for medical examination. "Those fit for undergoing surgery will be kept off-fed for 12 – 24 hours. Those suffering from illness, injuries, mange etc. will be treated prior to their sterilisation," said Qasba.

The authorities will put V-shaped ear notching to identify the sterilized dogs. "These dogs will be released in the same areas after the completion of post-operative period and ensuring proper healing," said Qasba.

Dog pounds:

1800 pounds with a capacity of 50 canines in each pound

2,500 kanals required with expenditure of Rs 98 cr per year on dog caretaking

Pounds will be equipped with separate kennels for males and females species

Impounded dogs will be looked by specialized people called ‘Dog Caretakers’, who will take care of 25 dogs

Past exercises to combat dog menace:

The SMC arranged to train their staff in the art of catching stray dogs from a US team in Feb this year

Khursheed Ahmad Mir (54), an agriculture graduate with an MBA degree, who claimed to be a pied piper with scientific technology was rope in March, 2011 but charged Rs 20 crore. The experiment was shelved.

In a separate initiative, planned to sterilize male ones and marking them with studs to avoid confusion. The SMC then submitted a Rs 4.5-crore project before the Animal Welfare Board, Government of India, for expert advice and funds for scientific sterilization of dogs.

Functioning of SPCA ineffective, say activists

‘Most of the time, Society does not respond to calls for help'

The ineffective functioning of Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Coimbatore, has been an issue raised by animal rights activists in the district for a long time, but has failed to draw the attention of the authorities. The SPCAs were formed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Section S.O.271 (E) of the Act defines the responsibilities of the Society as to aid the Government, Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and local authorities in enforcing the provisions of the Act and make by-laws and guidelines for efficient discharge of its duties. It could seize animals subjected to cruelty and hand over offenders to police. 

According to the Act, it is the State Government's duty to provide adequate land and other facilities to construct infirmaries and animal shelters with a fulltime veterinary doctor and other staff for running the facilities. Animal rights activists complained that most of the time, the Society did not respond to calls for help, while, the SPCA officials cited inadequate funding as the reason for their inability to carry out their duties. The Society barely had the facilities mentioned in the Act. The members revealed that they had not met for a board meeting for a long time. 

“An amount of Rs. 8-9 crores is allotted by the Central Government and this has to be distributed among around 1,200 organisations. Funds were allocated based on the number of animals rescued or sheltered by SPCAs,” said Vinod Kumar, Assistant Secretary, AWBI. According to him, the maintenance of 500-1,000 animals required around 20-25 lakh a year. If the Government allotted more funds, AWBI could raise the monitory assistance provided to SPCAs. He added that the SPCA officers could seek the assistance of local authorities and NGOs to carry out their activities. 

The Government allotted funds for schemes including maintenance of animals, constructing shelter, purchase of ambulance and providing relief to animals affected by natural calamities, he added. Animal rights activists pointed to the lack of interest and mismanagement on part of SPCA members for inaction. “If project proposals and reports were submitted on time, AWBI provided the money needed to carry them out,” said Mini Vasudevan, managing trustee, Humane Animal Society. 

According to Kalpana Vasudevan, AWBI member and managing trustee of People for Animals Unit II, AWBI provided enough funds for organising ABC programme, SPCA had not taken any interest in this. There was just one ABC centre at Seeranaickenpalayam. SPCA was not properly assisting or monitoring Animal Birth Control (ABC) programmes in the district.

“The Coimbatore SPCA exists only on paper. Several requests over the past years to revive it had fallen on deaf ears. Over an acre of land owned by SPCA lying adjacent to the ABC centre at Seeranaickenpalayam is left idle for years and no effort has been made to utilise it to shelter animals,” said Ms. Mini. 

According to Poorva Joshipura, Chief Functionary, PETA India, the inspector should be present through out the day to ensure smooth functioning of the society. It should conduct awareness programmes to encourage people to adopt animals, organise sterilisation programme for community dogs and cats and provide temporary shelter for abandoned animals. 

Many activists complained that the Society had declined their offer to provide assistance in its activities. Reconstituting the Society though a transparent process would help revive it, they suggested. The Society headed by District Collector M. Karunakaran has members including Joint Director of Animal Husbandry Department S. Shanmugham, T. Kandasamy, Conservator of Forests (Coimbatore Circle), Advocate N. Sundaravadivelu and Chief Education Officer T. Rajendhiran. J. Fredric Vimalan is the SPCA inspector. Two representatives each from NGOs and business houses, Superintendent of Police (Rural) are also members of the Society.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/article3222601.ece 

'Thiruvambadi Thamban' gets a tranquilizer shot

Alappuzha: The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has denied permission for using elephants for the shooting of M Padmakumar's film Thiruvambadi Thamban with Jayaram in the lead.

The AWBI has also served show-cause notices to the film's producer and director for illegally parading 54 tuskers for the shooting of the film last December. The board has also asked the director to remove the scene in the film in which Jayaram (Thiruvambadi Thamban Tharakan) and Jagathy Sreekumar (Thiruvamabi Mathan Tharakan) have acted along with tuskers.

On March 1 this year, the AWBI's Performing Animals Sub Committee (PASC) considered six applications from various film producers for getting the board's no-objection certificate (NOC) for using animals for shooting. However, the PASC granted NOC to all other films except Thiruvambadi Thamban.

The film's director Padmakumar and producer Alexander John (Jini Cinema) submitted a letter of apology to the AWBI for using 54 elephants for the shooting of the film without AWBI permission on December 23, 2011 on the premises of the Kattakampal Temple in Thrissur. The board, however refused to entertain the letter and served them a show-cause notice on March 1 under section 26 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

As per the Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2001, shooting with animals should be undertaken only after getting pre-shoot permission from AWBI. Padmakumar said they had sought permission for using two elephants for filming outside Kerala. "However, we did not get permission and they also sought some clarifications from us. We do want to highlight this issue. Though we have been directed to delete some scenes, we will take a decision on that only before we submit the movie to the Censor Board," he said. The show-cause notice followed a complaint lodged by V K Venkitachalam, secretary, Heritage Animal Task Force.

Venkitachalam said the film told the story of a family which indulged in illegal trading of elephants, which also is against rules. "The director of the movie has also used elephants in Nagercoil, Pollachi and Tirunelveli for the shooting without the permission of the board. We have also drawn the board's attention to this issue."

However, S Sureshkumar, the scriptwriter of the film, said the story of the film did not violate any rules. "We have not used 54 elephants for the shooting, and we have shot the real pooram at Kattakampal Temple. We have informed the AWBI this. And they have sought some clarifications from us after we failed to submit some papers. We will soon sort out all problems," he said.

Animal Welfare Board seeks quashing of order to permit J'kattu

Madurai:  The Animal Welfare Board of India today filed a petition in the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court seeking quashing of orders of Tiruchirapalli and Madurai Collectors to permit Jallikattu (taming of the bull) to be held this year in connection with the Pongal harvest festival.

The board submitted it has taken this action after the Collectors passed the order to hold the festival despite individual letters drawing their attention to the Environment Ministry's notification banning use of bulls as performing animals.

 It said it has also sent reminders to all Collectors that the state should ensure that the bulls are not trained or exhibited as performing animals in view of the notification and that any violation would contravene the Centre's direction.

The Board also requested that a circular be issued to all authorities to comply with the notification.

The petitioner apprehended the possibility of Jallikttau being held in Madurai and Trichirapalli districts for Pongal.

If held, it would not only cause cruelty to the animals but also a lot of inconvenience, injury and death of innocent public which should be avoided at any cost.

The Board also prayed for a stay on the operation of the December 14 proceeding of the Secretary of Animal Husbandry Department and consequential orders of the two collectors.  

The petitioner further sought a direction to authorities to implement the union government's notification.  

http://www.ndtv.com/article/tamil-nadu/animal-welfare-board-seeks-quashing-of-order-to-permit-jkattu-165701

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/tamil-nadu/animal-welfare-board-seeks-quashing-of-order-to-permit-jkattu-165701&cp

It’s official: ‘bull mhanje baill’

AWBI order says villagers derived a different meaning of the word ‘bull’ from its GR last year; ban on bullock-cart race to stay 

Undeterred by a Government Resolution (GR) banning bullock-cart races in the state, the villagers of Karanti in Shirur taluka and Vadgaon Kandali in Junnar taluka had last year organised bullockcart races to celebrate the birthday of NCP legislator and Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Dilip Walse-Patil. The villagers had claimed that the animals used in the races are not ‘bulls’ but ‘saandh/valu’ (castrated bulls which are left unattended in the villages). 

Now, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has cracked the whip making it clear that no such meaning should be derived by anybody and that there is a total ban on bullock-cart race. The AWBI order, issued to all police units in the state two days ago, reads “Bull mhanje baill. There is a ban on bullock-cart races in the state.” 

The Government of India Gazette too clearly mentions that wherever "bull" is mentioned no other meaning should be derived from it. ‘Bull’ is the word which describes the entire species (the class of the animal). 

The order further states that the GR dated September 12, 2011, bans all sort of races in which animals are used. The AWBI notification orders the police to keep a vigil in the villages and cities to avert such bull races and to book the organisers under the proper provision of law. 

According to the order, the villagers and local politicians organised the races at Junnar and Shirur taking a different meaning of the GR. The races were organised on October 22 and 23, 2011 at Shirur while at Junnar they were organised between October 30 and November 1, 2011.  

 The bullock-cart races were organised to celebrate the birthday of NCP legislator and Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Dilip Walse-Patil last year

Byculla Zoo faces another blow, board orders probe into animal cruelty

In yet another blow to the civic-run Byculla Zoo, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has written to the Central Zoo Authority to probe into allegations made by city-based NGO Plant and Animals Welfare Society (PAWS) regarding cruelty towards animals by caretakers. 

In a letter to the CZA, AWBI’s assistant secretary S Vinod Kumaar said the board had received a complaint from PAWS on November 1 stating “the animals at Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan are treated in a cruel and inhumane manner”. The complaint was made on the basis of a surprise zoo inspection conducted by PAWS on October 29 last year, when team members allegedly found caretakers hitting and poking crocodiles with sticks, and visitors teasing animals by throwing stones with no caretakers around. 

“Even when we inspected the zoo in 2006 and 2009, we observed incidents of cruelty on the emu and the himalayan black bear. Through regular visits to the zoo, we have noticed that the zoo’s caretakers are not qualified to look after the animals. They do not know their behaviour and treat them roughly,” said Sunish Subramanian, founder and secretary of the NGO. 

The board, which comes under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, has directed the CZA to investigate the matter and direct the authorities concerned to take appropriate action against the offenders as per law. The letter has also been sent to the district Collector of Mumbai, the regional deputy director of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau as well as the superintendent of police for information and necessary action.  

Meanwhile, a report by the CZA team, which visited the zoo in December, has found faults in various areas of zoo management. The team had visited the zoo to evaluate it for extension of recognition as well as to investigate a complaint by state MP Sanjay Dina Patil about the pitiable living conditions of animals. The MP’s complaint was based on the same PAWS inspection report, which had also found that many enclosures did not have food or water, animals looked depressed with some being harassed by scavengers picking on their injuries and an unhygienic living environment. 

“The zoo management is poor and since it is an old zoo, there are many problems that need to be addressed,” said B S Bonal, member secretary, CZA. “Improvements are required in some areas. In fact, we asked them to prepare a master plan for this very reason as many problems will be solved if the guidelines are followed. A committee has been set up to study the report and decide on improvements,” he said.

No rats for Rakesh Roshan

Apparently, the producer/director has been denied permission by the Animal Welfare Board to use rodents in his film

Rakesh Roshan's upcoming film Krissh 3, which is currently under production was denied permission by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to include rats in one of the scenes. The board has also sought an explanation for scorpions and frogs that were found misused earlier on their sets.

In the application made by them, Roshan's production house sought permission to include five rats. This was for a scene in which the artiste would keep all these animals and insects in a lab because he is shown to be an animal lover in the film.

However, AWBI denied the application late last month. And instead, they asked the applicant to explain about the snakes, scorpions, frogs and other creatures that were seen loitering around on the sets.

It was recently reported that the script of the film demanded real reptiles rather than animated versions.  Hrithik Roshan had assured that the reptiles would not harm others or get harmed, as there were trained professionals to look after them.

The other side
When we tried contacting Major General R M Kharb, the chairman of AWBI, he was unavailable for comment.

However, on AWBI's website, the status of the application made on December 22 by Roshan's production house clearly mentions that the permission given may not be approved as the applicant needs to explain the reports on the reptiles that were found on the sets.

Speaking on the issue, Rakesh Roshan said, "We used dummies for long shots and for the close-ups we will be doing it on computer graphics."

Do you know?
The Bombay High Court issued a judgement on August 22, 2005, which required the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) to ask applicants to furnish a no-objection certificate from the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) before certifying any film in which animals have been used.

There have been numerous cases of animals that have suffered ill treatment during filmmaking. Some animals have even suffered serious injuries, while some have even died. Some animals are drugged to make them easier to work with, and many have their teeth and claws surgically removed or impaired. 

With inputs from Hiren Kotwani

http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2012/jan/060112-No-rats-for-Rakesh-Roshan.htm

Alappuzha's animal birth control

ALAPPUZHA: While residents in the district have been demanding an immediate solution to the growing stray dog menace, the local authorities say they are helpless in the matter. According to them, the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme cannot be executed due to lack of infrastructure and manpower.

As per the direction of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), the execution of the ABC programme is the responsibility of the local bodies and the State Animal Husbandry Department. However, the authorities in both these departments claim that the infrastructure and manpower for executing the programme according to AWBI guidelines are inadequate.

As per the data available with the preventive clinic in Alappuzha Medical College Hospital, 1,994 people were bitten by dogs this year. Last year, nearly 1,747 people were affected. Dr Carol Pinheiro, doctor of community medicine at the MCH preventive clinic, said, "Six people died in the district due to rabies in 2010 and 2011." As per the data, people have also been victims of attack by cats - there were 1082 cases last year, and 822 cases so far this year. Alappuzha municipal chairperson Mercy Diana Masido said they were concerned about the increase in the number of stray dog attack cases. "As per AWBI, we have to set up kennels, operation theatres and ambulances for sterilization of stray dogs. And sterilized dogs should be released in the area from where they are captured. These guidelines are not practical. So we are not getting involved with the programme," she said.

The Kerala State Animal Husbandry Department (KSAHD) director Dr Vijayakumar R said that veterinary hospitals in Alappuzha were not equipped to carry out the ABC programme. "Our hospitals function from morning to evening. As per the programme, doctors should observe the sterilized dogs for two days and provide them postoperative care. It is not practical. There is also a shortage of dog catchers and trained doctors here," he said. "But such problems do not exist in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation or Thodupuzha Municipality where the programme is on," he added.

Alappuzha district panchayat president U Pratibha Hari said though they were ready to allot funds for the programme, they had not received any project from local bodies in this regard. "There are provisions in the Panchayati Raj Act for imposing fine on dog owners if their dogs attack people. But local bodies are ignoring this provision," she said.

Heritage Animal Task Force secretary VK Venkitachalam alleged that though the Animal Husbandry Department had adequate funds for executing the ABC programme, they had been diverting the funds for other purposes. "The department is not giving any importance to the issue of stray dogs. The state government and the AWBI should take immediate steps for effective execution of the programme," he said.

Though people in the district are demanding immediate solution for the increasing dog menace, the local bodies in the district are not ready to execute Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme for sterilization of stray dogs.

As per the direction of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), the execution of the ABC programme is the responsibility of the local bodies concerned and the State Animal Husbandry Department. However according to the officials of the local bodies and the Animal Husbandry Department, they do not have infrastructure and manpower for executing the ABC programme in tune with the guidelines of the AWBI.

“Sterilized and vaccinated dogs cannot be dislocated”

http://www.theweekendleader.com/Causes/720/Animal-welfare.html

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated," said Mahatma Gandhi. World Animal Day is celebrated across the globe on October 4th, the feast of St Francis of Assisi, a nature lover and patron saint of animals and the environment.

 

In India, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) takes care of implementation of animal welfare laws in the country. It provides grants to animal welfare organizations and advises the government of India on animal welfare issues.

Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Dr. R.M. Kharb, is the Chairman of AWBI. Kharb was appointed to the post in recognition of his outstanding contribution in the field of Veterinary Services in the Indian Army.

As Chairman of AWBI, Gen. Kharb successfully convinced the Veterinary Council of India (VCI) to introduce animal welfare as a separate subject in the curriculum of Veterinary Colleges in India.

Kharb has been instrumental in the launch of the ongoing ‘Rabies Free India’ programme in many metros in the country and has also convinced many State governments to adopt the participatory model of Animal Birth Control (ABC) Programme for stray dogs.

He spoke to Rama Devi Menon on protecting animals from cruelty and the laws that can be invoked in case of violations. Excerpts from the interview.

Q. Gen Kharb, we have been witnessing several instances of animal cruelty in our daily lives. We see people beating, kicking and even killing animals, but most of us feel we are helpless to do anything or we just move away feeling sorry for the animal at the most. Are there any laws to protect animals from human torture? Could you highlight some laws that a common man can use to prevent such cruelty towards animals? 

A: The two relevant enactments are the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (Section 11), and the Indian Penal Code (Sections 428 & 429). Please always confront the people who may be resorting to unlawful, cruel acts, and lodge complaints with the police, if need be.

Some of the forms of cruelty prescribed under Section 11 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 are beating, kicking, over-riding, over-driving, over-loading, torturing, causing unnecessary pain or suffering to any animal; keeping or confining any animal in any cage or any receptacle, which does not measure sufficiently in height, length and breadth to permit the animal a reasonable opportunity for movement; and mutilating any animal or killing any animal (including stray dogs) by using the method of strychnine injections in the heart or in any other unnecessarily cruel manner.

Q. Can the public make a complaint to the police regarding animal abuse?

A: Yes, indeed. The offences set out in Sections 428 & 429 of the Indian Penal Code, and even some sub-sections of Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, are cognizable. The police can take cognizance of the same. Additionally, the Police Acts of most states contain separate chapters in respect of animal cruelty offences, and prescribe how the same have to be dealt with.

Q. Whom do you approach if the police refuses to take any action?

A: Inform us (the AWBI), or take support from local Animal Welfare Organizations/ Society for Prevention of Cruelty towards Animals/NGOs etc.

Q. Some building societies prevent residents from feeding or sheltering stray dogs even in their apartment basements or in front of the building. How can one overrule such opposition?

A: A building society is not a law enforcement agency, or a body with police powers. It cannot interfere with the rights otherwise available to citizens of India. The Rules, bye-laws, etc. of such an entity cannot differ from, or be more restrictive than any law of the land. Therefore, demand, in the first instance, to see the ‘stipulation’ in the rules or bye-laws of the society, or otherwise contained in their allotment terms, that allows them to debar residents from feeding or sheltering community dogs. If there is such a stipulation, please write to us in the said regard, so that we can take it up with them. If there is none, please stand up for your rights. (However please ensure the sterilization and vaccination of the community animals.)

Q. Can you prevent the municipality from removing vaccinated dogs from a colony?

A: If the dogs are both sterilized and vaccinated, the municipality cannot dislocate them. The Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001, forbid the dislocation of sterilized and vaccinated dogs from the territories they belong to.

Q. Do you have any suggestions for people regarding stray animals in their locality since most consider them a menace? Can you suggest some humane approach?

A: India is the land of ahimsa, and all life is equally sacred. In fact, even the Constitution of India casts a duty upon every citizen to show compassion to all living creatures. This Fundamental Duty is set out in Article 51A (g) of the Constitution of India.

Q. We often see cattle bundled into trucks and being transported from one State to the other without food or water. Can a common man stop the truck and take any action?

A: Complain to the police immediately. Note the number of the vehicle. Complain to the local SPCA / local Animal Welfare Organization. Most of all, lodge a complaint with the police that the animals are/were being transported in violation of the Transport of Animals Rules.

Q. Are sports involving animals like bull fighting, jallikattu and cock fighting banned?

A: Litigation is pending in an effort to try and bring about a ban / adequate safeguard and regulation of such violent entertainment involving cruelty to animals.

Q. During festivals and some religious ceremonies, animals are often sacrificed to appease gods. Is this right?

A: No, it is not right. Around religious beliefs and ceremonies however, we have to tread cautiously. That does not of course mean that any animal can be slaughtered / sacrificed, in the name of religion. Perhaps the persons proposing to sacrifice can be asked to point out the religious text that mandates animal sacrifice as being an essential part of their religion.

Q. Most people are ignorant about the animals that can be kept as pets. Could you tell our readers what are the animals that can be kept at home?

A: The dictionary meaning of the term ‘pet’ is ‘any domesticated or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately’. If indeed that is the intention, ‘companion animals’, i.e. dogs or cats are best kept as pets. It is also very important to keep in mind that a living being is not chattel, and should be kept without cruelty.

Q. The AWBI has been advocating anti-rabies vaccinations and the animal birth control program for stray dogs. How effective do you think this has been in controlling the population of stray dogs? Do you have any statistics regarding the number of States that have implemented this program?

A: The Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001, mandates that for controlling stray dog population and the spread of rabies, every local authority has to sterilize and vaccinate the dogs in the manner envisaged by the Rules, and put them back at the spot they were picked up from. It can only be effective if area-wise animal birth control is implemented across the length and breadth of the country. Unfortunately, the animal birth control program is not being implemented effectively. However with effective implementation of ABC/AR programme in Chennai and Jaipur, no rabies case has been reported from these two Metros in the last two years and the population of stray dogs has appreciably declined. Therefore, the concept works provided it is implemented aggressively to achieve target of 70% of sterilization and vaccination of dogs.

Q. Finally Gen. Kharb, what is your message to people regarding the need to give a dignified life to animals, especially the homeless?

A: Respect all life and living beings, especially those that are homeless and hence disadvantaged, and show compassion for all living creatures.

Prohibit import, sale, use of glue traps: Animal welfare board

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Prohibit-import-sale-use-of-glue-traps-Animal-welfare-board/articleshow/9707950.cms

PUNE: In response to a petition by the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organizations (FIAPO), Major General R M Kharb, chairman of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has issued a circular asking the chief secretaries of state governments and the director general of foreign trade to prohibit sale, manufacture, use and import of glue traps.

Glue traps, also known as glue boards or sticky traps, are a type of non-lethal or restraining rodent traps that are used mostly to trap rats and mice. The animals are caught in the trap by their feet or fur and these attached animals are thrown away still stuck to the trap, and cannot escape. They endure a prolonged period of terror, pain and distress before death. Their desperate efforts to escape from the trap result in torn skin and broken legs while some even try to bite through their limbs in an attempt to get away. Other birds and animals can also end up in these traps and then suffer a similar fate.

Mice stuck on a glue trap

"The use of glue traps for controlling rats and rodents is in contravention of the provisions contained in Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960"; said Major General R M Kharb, chairman of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI).

"We are grateful to the Animal Welfare Board of India and we certainly expect that the state governments and the DGFT will issue appropriate orders"; said Arpan Sharma, chief executive officer of FIAPO . "Stores, manufactures, importers, pest control agencies and consumers who continue to sell, manufacture, import and use glue traps must be prosecuted under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act," Sharma said.

Facts:

AWBI is a statutory body of the Government of India established in 1962 under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960. It has been constituted to promote animal welfare in general and for protecting animals from being subjected to unnecessary pain and suffering. At present, AWBI works under the Ministry of Environment and Forests,

FIAPO is India's umbrella animal welfare body concerned with the protection and welfare of all animals, with hundreds of members and colleagues across the country.