India likely to impose blanket ban on testing cosmetics on animals

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-likely-to-impose-blanket-ban-on-testing-cosmetics-on-animals/articleshow/17865653.cms

NEW DELHI: India in a landmark move is planning to impose a blanket ban on testing cosmetics on animals. 

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BSI) is revising the standard IS 4011 — the method of safety testing for cosmetics. 

Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) Dr G N Singh told TOI that the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) is examining the feasibility of banning animal testing of cosmetics. 

Dr Singh met MP and animal activist Maneka Gandhi last week to discuss the legislation. Dr Singh said, "Several developed countries have put in rules that ban testing cosmetics on animals. We are thoroughly examining them. We don't want to be cruel to animals. If other countries don't allow it, we will also ban animal testing of cosmetics. The decision will follow a through examination and a strong scientific examination." 

Gandhi has sent a letter to the DCGI giving scientific evidence supporting a ban on animal testing. 

The letter, written on December 18, said, "on a priority, we as a nation need to go cruelty free as far as testing cosmetics are concerned." 

Gandhi said that the European Union (EU) has with the 7th amendment of the cosmetic directive prohibited testing of finished cosmetic products from September, 2004. She also cited that testing cosmetics on animals has also not been required by the US FDA. In spite of this, the BIS standards' draft includes two painful tests on animals. 

"Again the testing and marketing ban on ingredients came into force on March, 2009, in the EU for all human health effects with the exception of three animal tests - repeated dose toxicity, reproductive toxicity and texicokinetics. For these specific health effects the marketing ban will also apply from March 11, 2013, irrespective of the availability of alternative non-animal tests. Hence, testing on animals has become completely illegal in the EU for cosmetics," the letter said. 

Gandhi said this is undoubtedly going to affect the country, given the large export market of Indian herbal cosmetics to the EU. 

The letter added, "It is important that India acts. Harmonization of India's regulation with that of Europe's cosmetics regulation will ensure an immediate upgrade of India's safety standards in cosmetics testing using non-animal methods." 

Gandhi said the DCGI has the power to amend rule 150-A in the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, "and the easiest way would be that you amend it to be harmonized with EU cosmetics legislation of November 30, 2009". 

The Union health ministry has made it mandatory for the registration of all cosmetics ranging from skin care and hair care products that are imported from April 1, 2013. 

The requirement was originally planned to come into force from October 1, 2012. 

Dr Singh said, "If animal testing of cosmetics isn't mandatory by either the US FDA or the EU, it seems unnecessary for India to have them at all." 

The DCGI is setting up a separate cell to monitor important and distribution of the cosmetic industry. 

As per the guidelines, each cosmetic category-like lipstick, mascara, tooth pastes and soaps will carry a registration fee of $250. 

A violation of the rules will result in both penalty in the form of fines and jail term. 

Around 61% of the dermatological market in India consists of skin lightening products. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently warned that the serious adverse effects of inorganic mercury, which is a common ingredient found in skin lightening soaps and creams, includes kidney damage, reduction in the skin's resistance to bacterial and fungal infections, anxiety, depression or psychosis and also peripheral neuropathy. 

The global health watchdog pointed out that mercury in soaps and creams is eventually discharged into wastewater. The mercury, then, enters environment, where it becomes methylated, and enters the food chain as highly toxic methylmercury in fish. Pregnant women who consume fish containing methylmercury transfer the mercury to their fetuses that can later result in neurological deficits in children. 

WHO said skin-lightening soaps and creams are commonly used Asian nations. 

"Some manufacturers are no longer using mercury as a preservative in mascara and eye makeup cleansing products as a result of consumer pressure. However, most jurisdictions still allow the sale of makeup products containing mercury compounds. The soaps contain approximately 1%-3% mercury iodide, and the creams are composed of 1%-10% mercury ammonium," WHO said. 

Platters for animals

http://www.thehindu.com/arts/article3775525.ece

Ceramic platters to raise money for animal shelters

People for Animals (PFA) is featuring ceramic platters at its annual fundraiser. A thousand-odd original platters by artists, from all over the country, will be on sale. “There is a wide range of platters from 18 inches to 24 inches in diameter, which are priced between Rs. 5,000 and a lakh,” said Shilpa Chaudhary of the PFA. The unique handcrafted pieces have been done by renowned artists including Yogesh Mahida, Kristine Michael, Jyoti Bhatt, Vinod Daroz and Rini Dhumal.

PFA, headed by Lok Sabha member Maneka Gandhi, lobbies for animals rights and conducts advocacy campaigns in India. They also run a network of veterinary health centres and mobile hospitals and carry out animal disaster rescue missions all across the country. PFA aims to have an animal welfare centre in every district in India.PFA is aiming at generating Rs. 60 lakhs from the sale.

While regular potters are apprehensive about experimenting with shapes, for fear of them cracking in the furnace, these artists have spent months experimenting with shapes, using the finest clays and glazes to create these masterpieces. They are in various shapes and textures inspired by themes like space, the sea and auto rickshaws. There are brilliant works that can fit ones budget too — like Leena Batra’s platter — based on the fairytale The Frog Prince— which costs only Rs.6000. The works are like paintings with three dimensions. Works like those by Neha Pullarwar and Neera Makhija have an aboriginal fossilised look to them, while Keshari Nandan’s clouds on a black platter have an antique Greek touch to it.

PFA’s annual fundraisers — taking place since 1987 — concentrate on emerging genres in the art market. Previous exhibitions have featured porcelain mugs, designer T-shirts, antique tiles and Raj-era lithographs. The prices of the platters, according to the PFA, are lower than those in the open market. So if you want to stock up your art collection, what better time and cause than this.

The exhibition is from August 17 to August 19 at The Lalit on Barakhamba Road.

Rescue hippos from all circuses: Maneka Gandhi

NAGPUR: Animal rights activist and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Pilibhit Maneka Gandhi has asked the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), a statutory body under the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF), to remove all hippos from circuses and put them in zoos or rescue centres.

The hippos in all the circuses are blind. Obviously they are being blinded to make them more amenable. Earlier, one blind hippo from a circus was rescued. Another died in Jumbo Circus and now the one in Amar Circus is third.

According to Dr BK Gupta, evaluation and monitoring officer with CZA, there are only three hippos on display in circuses.

Gandhi, in a letter to CZA member-secretary BS Bonal, suggested to constitute a committee either by the CZA or the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and seek a report of all animals in the circuses. The circus animals continue to be abused, ill-treated and killed very often.

The MP said that CZA should re-examine registration of all performing animals since beginning till date and rescue all abused animals cancelling their registration.

"Registration of all hippos, docked tailed dogs, feather chopped birds be cancelled. These animals should be rescued and rehabilitated by July 25, 2012. Besides, registration of all elephants as performing animals may also be cancelled," Gandhi said.

She has also suggested to introduce fixed retirement and rehabilitation of performing animals and birds.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-26/flora-fauna/32424013_1_hippos-cza-circuses

The Reluctant Gourmet: Turning over a new leaf

Ever considered turning vegetarian? Or experimenting with veganism? Try the ‘Vegan Kickstart' — a programme that handholds you through 21 days of interesting, nutritious and varied vegan meals. 

The free online nutritional programme is pioneered by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), a non-profit organisation headquartered in Washington, D.C. Ulka Agarwal, chief medical officer at the PCRM says they came up with Kickstart to show that eating a plant-based diet for just three weeks can result in significant health benefits. She adds, “Kickstart India is short enough so that anyone can test-drive it, but long enough to see results… So far about 3,200 people have signed up for the June programme and around 10,000 people signed up for our November Kickstart.”

Kickstart India began this month, and will be live till the end of July. PCRM runs this programme twice a year in India, China, and three times a year in the U.S. 

Although about 40 per cent of India is vegetarian, Dr. Agarwal says this programme is important because, according to their figures, close to 30 per cent of India is either overweight or obese. “Type 2 diabetes affects more than 50 million Indians… As a physician, I'm alarmed by the climbing diabetes rates, which surpasses the U.S. Blindness, amputations, and loss of kidney function go hand-in-hand with Type 2 diabetes.” 

Stating that “Indians consume a lot of milk and milk products which could be responsible for the country's above-average rates of diabetes and rising obesity,” she says dairy product consumption in India is expected to double over the next decade. 

Still need convincing? “During this test-drive, people typically lose a pound each week. They also see their cholesterol and blood pressure levels plummet. Health of people with diabetes improves dramatically. Migraines and pain often vanish. This diet is very low in saturated fat and virtually cholesterol-free diet, yet full of fibre and antioxidants.” Dr. Agarwal says it's not as tough as it seems. “Non-vegetarians have actually found the transition very easy. Many people report that their taste-buds change after three weeks. They no longer crave certain foods such as meat, sugar, and cheese. They feel healthier, thinner, and more energetic… Menu items include chai, mint biryani with roasted mushrooms, aloo gobi, herb roti, and tamarind chutney. This is not a deprivation diet.”

Here's an additional incentive. Mallika Sherawat will be one of your coaches. She says she transitioned to a vegan diet for better health, as well as the good of the environment. “I was surprised at how easy it was! There are so many delicious options to choose from. I pay attention to healthy, plant-based foods in their natural state. I also opt for ancient grains, such as quinoa and barley. They're less acidic than refined wheat and packed with protein and fibre.” 

She adds, “I always load up with leafy greens, like green juice, in the morning… All you need is a cup or two of spinach or kale, an apple, parsley, and a few celery stalks. Mix it in a blender and you're good to go! You don't need to add milk or dairy.” Just back from Cannes, she says being vegan is what helps her deal with her hectic lifestyle. “I love my lifestyle and thrive on clean energy…” 

As a coach for the 21-Day Vegan Kickstart, Sherawat will be sharing her favourite recipes and health tips with Kickstarters. Other coaches include Maneka Gandhi, Jackie Shroff, Alicia Silverstone, Shashi Tharoor and Amala Akkineni.
 

Akkineni says she started on a plant-based diet out of compassion for animals. “Increased energy and improved digestion are two of the biggest health benefits I've experienced. I never realised I was lactose intolerant until I eliminated dairy from my diet.” 

                                

She recommends changing the way you eat by changing how you cook. “Prepare wonderful meals by making simple adjustments to your favourite dishes. Or branch out and find new foods that fit with your current lifestyle. I love loading my favourite staples — pizza and pasta — with fresh vegetables, like tomatoes, broccoli, and eggplant. I love using alternatives to cheese such as humus or tahini paste. I love salads so I fill them with sprouts of various kinds, nuts and vegetables. When I'm feeling adventurous I experiment with ancient grains, such as quinoa and millet, or leafy greens, such as bok choy and kale, mushrooms, which are packed with fibre and bold flavour. These foods are light, full of nutrients and easy to incorporate into juices, wraps, or main entrées.”

Join the movement at http://www.21daykickstartindia.org/

Sea horses recovered from Agra warehouse

Agra: The owners of an Agra-based firm were taken into custody after thousands of sea snakes, sea horses and various other sea creatures, some banned under the Wild Life Act, were found in formalin-filled drums in the company's warehouse, police said here Thursday.. Ramesh Mahajan and his son Manu Mahajan, owners of Biocraft Scientific System in Nagla Padi locality here, were taken into custody Wednesday.  

On a complaint by a Delhi NGO, having links with animal welfare advocate-cum-politician Maneka Gandhi, the Agra police Wednesday raided a warehouse in Nagla Padi locality, and were shocked to find thousands of sea snakes, sea horses and various other species.

Representatives of People for Animals from Delhi, India's largest animal welfare organisation, told police that the link with this local firm was established after zoology labs of Greenfield College and Acharya Narendra Dev college in Delhi were raided in February.

This is the second major incident here of trading in wild life.  In October 2006, a courier company was found to be sending parcels of a company run by one Upadhyaya, who had a warehouse in Kailashpuri colony. The case is still under trial.

Meanwhile, Mahajan told police that the sea creatures were procured from Mumbai and Chennai and were kept in glass jars to be supplied to educational institutions. He said his firm was legal and registered and was engaged in this work for a decade.

http://zeenews.india.com/news/eco-news/sea-horses-recovered-from-agra-warehouse_768448.html 

 

Court clears duo arrested, humiliated for feeding dogs

Two animal lovers from Thane, who were arrested and humiliated two years ago after a stray dog they used to feed allegedly bit a resident, have finally been acquitted, with a magistrate court ruling that feeding strays was not a crime.

The order provides welcome relief for animal lovers in the city, many of whom are pulled up by their housing societies for taking care of strays. Only recently, well-known director Partho Ghosh had a quarrel with his society management when he was fined Rs 1000 in his maintenance bill for feeding two stray dogs. His family, incidentally, had been taking care of them since they were pups.

This order is only the first victory for Sanjeev Dighe and Yatin Mhatre, who are fighting a separate case in High Court against the State and the police for handcuffing them and parading them around their society. In this, they are being represented by Mahesh Jethmalani and have the backing of, among others, Maneka Gandhi.

For Dighe, a commercial artist, and Mhatre - both residents of Lok Puram complex in Thane - the nightmare started on September 20, 2009. The duo had been feeding strays in their locality for several years, something that had led to many altercations with society members. Dighe says the residents believed this would lead to an increase in the stray dog population in the area.

That night, Dighe was getting ready to go out and feed the strays around 10.45 pm when a posse of cops arrived in a private vehicle and asked him to accompany them to Vartak Nagar Police Station. Mhatre accompanied him there, and a few hours later, the duo were booked under Section 289 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with animals in a particular person's care attacking someone.

The next morning, both were handcuffed and taken to their society, where they were paraded around, ostensibly to show other residents what happened to people who fed strays. They were then taken to a holiday court, which released them on bail.

In a recent order, Jaishree Poonawala, judicial magistrate first class, remarked that "feeding stray dogs is not a crime", adding that strays were not the same as pets and certainly not the sole responsibility of those who feed them.

"After our arrest, Maneka Gandhi personally got involved and helped us file the petition in HC through Mahesh Jethmalani," said Dighe. This order itself has come as a huge relief to Mhatre and Dighe. "Finally justice has prevailed. Several people like me are often victimised by residents who do not like others feeding strays. We hope this order will help others like us," said Dighe.

Ajay Marathe, a noted animal rights activist, pointed out that incidents of animal lovers being victimised were common in Mumbai. "Those who feed dogs in their area are treated badly. Most residents are against such feeding and come up with random rules to stop them," said Marathe.

RK Joshi, convener of Committee to Monitor Animal Welfare Laws in Maharashtra, has recently written to the BMC commissioner highlighting the issue of societies trying to get rid of stray dogs.

He has pointed out that years after Bombay High Court laid down the guidelines for dealing with stray dogs - the HC has put an emphasis on animal birth control and sterilisation - people continued to harass dogs and animal lovers.

"There is growing tendency in housing societies not to permit stray dogs on the society premises or even in the vicinity. There have been instances when dogs are brutally assaulted by the society members or the watchmen," the letter states, adding that instances of animal lovers being assaulted were common. The letter urges the commissioner, who is also the chairman of the Monitoring Committee, to urgently look at these issues and ensure that animal lovers and dogs were not harassed.

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/2/2012040220120402074148526b20c003b/Court-clears-duo-arrested-humiliated-for-feeding-dogs.html 

Citizens’ outlook towards stray animals should change: Maneka Gandhi

Pune: Animal rights activist and environmentalist Maneka Gandhi visited the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) kennel at Mohannagar in Chinchwad on Thursday. PCMC commissioner Ashish Sharma and medical staff were present.

She reviewed the sterilisation process of stray dogs and suggested restructuring of municipal kennel to carry out animal birth control programme.
Citing the examples of how developed countries are carrying out effective birth control programmes on municipality levels, she said that there is a need to change the outlook of people in the country regarding stray animals.

Gandhi said that the civic administration should at least conduct 40-50 operations daily and needs to have a well-equipped and spacious kennels providing facilities like separate operation theatres to carry out surgeries, separate kitchen to provide nutritious diet to stray dogs and recovery room under one roof.

Gandhi assured to help the civic body by sending experts to carry out sterilisation and train staff. She requested the administration to organise public awareness campaigns on how stray dogs help the environment.

http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/MAH-PUN-citizens-outlook-towards-stray-animals-should-change-maneka-gandhi-3034914.html 

Concept of vegetarianism as a way of life

by Maneka Gandhi

I am reading an interesting book sent to me from a PFA member in Canada: The Bloodless Revolution, A Cultural History of Vegetarianism from 1600 to Modern times By Tristan Stuart. What this erudite and well researched book proves again and again is that the concept of vegetarianism as a way of life was gifted to the world by India and that every philosopher who propagated it from Pythagoras onwards learnt it from our country. Vegetarianism is such a simple concept. But the West always equated it with eating bread and water only, fasting, nut cutlets, losing huge amounts of weight, eschewing alcohol, and never telling lies…. In short, a monastic, puritanical, severe life without any joy in it. Which is why, it was seen as crazy. It took centuries of foreign visits to India for the rest of the world to realize that you could live a life of great comfort, health and laughter without killing every other species.

Once people understood, many travellers carried the philosophy back to their countries. This is the story that the book attempts to tell. How wonderful that we should have taught man how to live in harmony and how truly terrible that we have strayed so far from our own way of life that today we rejoice that we are the 4th largest meat exporter in the world, the largest leather producer and one of the three countries majorly responsible for global warming by our breeding of animals for milk and meat

An interesting part of the book was a short history of the Mughal rulers of India and how they adopted Indian customs. When the Afghan invader Mohammad bin Ghaur came to northern India in the 12th century he was given the title of mleccha, a beef eating barbarian. A pun on his name made it Gori -foreigner or enemy of cows - Go as in cow and ari as in enemy, eater of foul foods. 

The culture clash became serious and later Mughals realized the benefits of bowing to local dietary demands. Babar was the first Mughal to rule undivided India. Humayun, his son, was the second Mughal Emperor who ruled present day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of northern India. He lost his kingdom early to Sher Shah Suri, but with Persian aid, he eventually regained an even larger one. On the eve of his death in 1556, the Mughal Empire spanned almost one million square kilometres. His peaceful personality, patience and gentle speech earned him the title Insan-i-Kamil.

Plotting his revenge, Humayun cut down on his use of opium, renounced alcohol, and even became a vegetarian for a year in order to purify himself for his conquest. When he returned in 1556, he learned about Hindu customs, especially regarding meat. He shunned beef in sympathy for his Hindu subjects.

His son, the emperor Akbar was immensely impressed with Jainism, specially the part about ahimsa. He issued edicts throughout his reign forbidding the killing of animals and fish and discouraging meat eating for upto six months of the year. He renounced hunting, abstained from eating meat most of the year, and officially limited the days on which animals could be slaughtered. Such legislation had not been seen since Emperor Ashok’s rock edicts of the 3rd century. His official chronicler Abu’l Fazl ‘Allami writes in the Ain-I-Akbari, “ His majesty has a great dis-inclination for flesh and he frequently says Providence has prepared a variety of food for man, but through ignorance and gluttony, none seem to have an eye for the beauty inherent in the prevention of cruelty, he destroys living creatures, and makes his body a tomb for beasts. If I were not a king, I would leave off eating flesh at once and now it is my intention to quit it by degrees.”

Akbar‘s favourite food was Khichri (rice and lentils) with curd and it was made every day. Akbar went to remark “Blood is the principal of life. To avoid eating thereof is to honour life.” Indologist and biographer of Akbar, Vincent Smith notes: “Akbar’s action in abstaining almost wholly from meat and in issuing stringent prohibitions, resembling those of Asoka, restricting to the narrowest limit the destruction of animal life, certainly was taken in obedience to the doctrine of his Jaina teachers.”

Akbar wrote and promulgated his Divine Faith (Din-I-Ilahi) that suggested a rational and ethical mysticism .The goal was union of the soul with God, and the ethics called for giving charity, sparing animals, permitting widows to remarry, and prohibiting child marriage, incest and forced sati. Beef was forbidden. Akbar declared firmans (royal decrees) banning the killing of animals during the four month Jain festivals of Paryusana and Mahavir Jayanti. During a hunt in 1578, Akbar experienced divine revelations: his attendants told him that “the beasts of the forest had with a tongueless tongue imparted divine secrets to him… he in thanksgiving for this great boon set free many thousands of animals.

Active men made endeavour that no one should touch the feather of a finch and that they should allow all the animals to depart according to their habit.” Akbar’s son and successor Jehangir praised his father publicly for doing without meat for nine months of the year calling his vegetarian food “Sufi food”. Jehangir issued his own firmans continuing the practice. Jehangir continued Akbar’s abstention, and even added Thursday for fasting.

In 1618 he went against all the mores of his times and took a vow to stop hunting and “to injure no living thing with my own hand.” One of Akbar and Jehangir’s favourite imperial icons was the image of the wolf and the lion in peaceful company with the lamb and the ox. Shah Jehan came to power in 1628 and while little is known about his diet, he had his throne in Red Fort, Delhi embellished with semi precious stones depicting Orpheus charming animals with his music. How strange that he should choose Greek mythology’s pre eminent vegetarian!

Shah Jehan’s son Aurangzeb ascended the throne in 1658 and is known for his strict adherence to Islamic practices and his distaste for local religion. Few people know that he became a strict vegetarian eating “nothing that has enjoyed life.” He ate only vegetables and sweetmeats. He drank water from Ganga river, ate Khichri, and bread made from Jowar and Bajra. During Aurangzeb’s reign, the imperial kitchens developed a ‘Khichri Alamgiri’ named after Aurangzeb himself. .Read the book and see India’s glorious heritage. Anyone can be violent. It takes true wisdom to be non violent.

http://www.nagalandpost.com/blog/BlogArticle.aspx?baid=QkExMDAwMDA0NDQ%3D-QXR%2BovJjb3I%3D&bid=QzEwMDAz-Umf6cJ3uJtQ%3D 

 

In India, most dogs are pariah dogs

Maneka Gandhi responds to queries raised by animal lovers across Mumbai.

What is the difference between stray dogs and mongrels?

Stray is merely a legal term indicating an animal that is ownerless and homeless. It does not refer to the breed of the dog. When pedigreed breeds are lost or abandoned on the street by their owners, they also become strays. A mongrel is a dog of mixed or indeterminate breed. Both the terms stray and mongrel are commonly — and erroneously — used to denote a pariah Dog. Pariahs are a distinct breed of dog, coming under the category of primitive or aboriginal breeds. Since they are not commercially recognised, this fact is not widely known. In India, most strays are Pariah Dogs or mongrels. Once a Pariah or mongrel gets adopted as a house-pet, it ceases to be a stray. We call them Indian dogs.

I sometimes see dogs with skin problems and hairless patches — aren’t they all rabid?

Skin problems and fur fall are not symptoms of rabies. Rabies affects the central nervous system, not the skin. Probably the confusion occurred because this is a skin disease called scabies, which is easily curable. Strangely, this question is asked quite often in India.

Isn’t it sad that stray dogs have to eat garbage?

Archaeological studies indicate that wolves started living near human settlements so that they could eat the garbage thrown outside. Dogs evolved from these wolves, and have always been scavengers. Unlike humans, they do not view garbage with disgust. In fact, even a well-fed pedigreed dog will make trips to the dustbin when his owners aren’t looking. Of course, eating garbage has its risks; since once in a while a dog may eat something poisonous bt many strays lead long and healthy lives with no other source of food.

My groomer wants to clean my dog’s teeth while he’s getting groomed. Is this a good idea?

It is a wonderful thing to have your pet’s teeth brushed while at the groomer. However, with regards to the groomer physically removing dental tartar — absolutely not! Several problems crop up when groomers manually scrape tartar off your dog’s teeth. First of all, the dog is fully awake, not sedated; if he has gingivitis, scaling his teeth will be painful. This is a terribly inhumane thing to do to a dog. In addition, only visible tartar can be scaled away with hand tools; tartar below the gumline, the main source of gingivitis, can’t be accessed with hand tools in a dog which is conscious. Secondly, scaling teeth with hand tools always leaves deep grooves in the enamel. Last, and most important, scaling of teeth always releases bacteria into the bloodstream through the gums. If your dog is not properly already on antibiotics designed for gingivitis, he could end up with an acute case of endocarditis. The only method to clean your dog’s teeth is at the vet under light anaesthesia.

http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report_in-india-most-dogs-are-pariah-dogs_1661271

Gaushalas in India

by Maneka Gandhi

 

In my constituency in Bareilly I find cows being taken regularly and openly to Rampur to be killed illegally. I have made squads of boys and they started catching the trucks. The cows were given to a local gaushala. This gaushala is on land given by the government and is run by a committee of traders, lawyers and society bigwigs. They are given donations by the local market associations to look after the cows. No one ever checks their work,

One day, I asked the boys to check the health of the cows we had put into the gaushala. They didn’t find them. There were some milking cows in a shed. A sweeper told us that the animals were regularly sold to the butchers of Rampur - the people we were saving them from in the first place. There was no doctor, only a few people whose job was to milk the cows and distribute the milk to the traders. The money from the market association went into the pockets of the committee members -as did the thousands of rupees from the cow sale.

These are good Hindus. The ones, who have little mandirs at home, go to the ramlilas and keep the nauratna fasts. I was furious. I asked the District Magistrate to investigate. No registers of entries were found, slips of sale, registers of food bought, milk taken out, salaries given. The place was filthy. The DM ordered the committee to be removed and punishment after a formal investigation. They paid the Chief Veterinary Officer who in any case would have given them a clean chit as he had never done his duty by going to the gaushala so he said the cows had probably died. Hundreds of them, and only the non milking ones? The committee members approached the local MLA who kept asking for them to be let off as “everyone makes mistakes”. The DM surrendered and said that the Gaushala committee of Lucknow should take a decision. I had an official brought out. She was fed and sent back and till today has not written a report. These worthies are still there. The selling may have stopped - but now they have found another way to steal money. They simply refuse to take in animals.  I will deal with them after the elections.

This is the story of 75% of gaushalas in India.

One of the worst cases is the gaushala in Agra. I have films and photographs of dying cows, their eyes pecked by crows. 500 animals pushed in there. No one makes it beyond a week. The committee has made a marriage house on part of the land and rent it out every day. Huge amounts of noise and filth and the smells of meat emanate from it. The committee pockets the money, takes the milk and the animals die of food, overcrowding and filth.  There is a small enclosure for milking cows and the two employees’ only job is to milk them and deliver the milk to the committee members. Repeated complaints to the Agra Commissioner, inspections, have all resulted in nothing because the head of the committee is the owner of the largest selling Hindi paper in Uttar Pradesh.

In some cases the gaushala is run by the administration themselves as in Indore and the cows do not last more than 2 days. They are caught by the local municipal employees who drag them by their legs into tractors and throw them into the enclosure where they lie there with broken legs till they die. There is no food or water as the man on the desk pockets the amount. The government gaushala in Jaipur during the BJP regime killed 33,000 before the press found out. No one has been penalized till today.

 I have received many serious complaints about the Srikrushna Goshala in Jharsuguda, Orissa. The Committee has sold part of the government land for a market complex and pocketed 78 lakhs. Some part has been made into a marriage hall. The cows are not given water and their feed is old. On one day 87 cows died from eating fungus filled chara.  Old cows which are supposed to be kept by the gaushala are thrown on to the road or sold to butchers. In 2005 the gaushala was given Rs 8 .7 lakhs for making a cowshed. Till today the gaushala has no sheds and the cows are exposed to sun and rain. From Kutch I have received a detailed list of irregularities on the hundreds of gaushalas dotting Gujarat. These gaushalas are supported by the state government and receive generous grants from Gujaratis all over the world.

Here are some of the points: I enumerate them because the gaushala in your area probably does the same

1. The gaushala refuses to take sick and disabled cows or to use an ambulance to rescue these.

2. The gaushala refuses to take buffaloes even though they are exactly the same as cows in giving milk etc. They refuse to take bulls or bullocks.

3. The institution will not keep registers of animals. If they are government aided they increase the number in order to get more grants. If they are unaided, they couldn’t be bothered to record their animals

4. Most sell animals supposedly to villagers but these are really middlemen for butchers.The gaushala people pretend that they do not know where the animal is going No entries are made in any registers about the adopters. Money goes into their pockets.

5. No medical facilities are available. Most gaushalas just have a few attendants. If an animal collapses, it is left there till it dies. Some gaushalas use government vets who come when they have time.

6. No cleaning is done. If the cow dung is sold, it is picked up; otherwise the animals stand in their faeces and urine leading to foot rot.

7. No proper food is given. No one knows how to mix dry hay and green fodder. The gaushala operates on whatever it gets free or least expensive. Thousands of animals die in agony of bloat. Much of the hay is fungused because it is kept for months in unclean godowns. Water is given sparingly and many die of thirst.

8. The gaushala is an overcrowded prison for cows. The cows are kept out in the heat and cold. They die of heat stroke or cold. The sheds are few and used for milking cows only.

9. Most gaushalas convert part of the land given to them into commercial premises and appropriate the money. That is why there is such competition to sit on a gaushala committee.

10. Many companies enter into deals with gaushalas and pretend to contribute vast sums to get the income tax deduction under 80 G  or 35 AC. Most of the money is then returned to the “donor” with a small amount kept as transaction fee by the gaushala committee. Many institutions set up gaushalas simply to convert their profits and avoid taxes.

11 Gaushala take agricultural land from the government to grow fodder for the cows. This is either not done or it is used for non agricultural purposes

12. Many gaushalas have luxurious marbled living quarters used by the management and as guest houses. They are made out of donations. 13. Many gaushalas take their old cows out supposedly for grazing and then abandon them there. The cows wander into the fields or villages.

When I was minister I made a law that no gaushala was allowed to milk cows. Milking cows would be put with motherless calves. But the gaushalas in Haryana are all large dairies with milking cows and missing calves- which means they have been sold to the butchers. There is a Haryana person who goes from gaushala to gaushala and takes money to inject old cows with a mix of hormones which he guarantees will make them give milk again. He has a line of customers. Are there any Hindus left in India?

http://www.nagalandpost.com/Blog/BlogArticle.aspx?baid=QkExMDAwMDA0MDE%3D-Wn%2B3VdAVF6E%3D&bid=QzEwMDAz-Umf6cJ3uJtQ%3D

Pet-iquette: Cat’s licking is a sign of anxiety

by Maneka Gandhi

My cat has been licking his lips as if he has dry mouth. He’s been doing it for a couple of days. Is something wrong?
Licking of lips can be an indicator of a range of different problems. It could be a sign of mild anxiety; an allergy of some sort (especially if they are licking another area of his body); or a sign of an obstruction somewhere in the digestive process (he may have swallowed an object or piece of string). In rare cases, this could be a sign of something more serious such as Chronic Renal Insufficiency where the kidneys aren’t functioning properly. CRI also includes symptoms like increased thirst/urination and nausea, so it’s unlikely to be the cause if that’s the only symptom.

What breed of dog is known not to bark when left alone?
It has more to do with the owners than it does the breed of dog. If you fulfil the dog’s instincts, the dog, no matter the breed, will be less likely to bark. I know there are some breeds that may have a tendency to bark more then others, but it really has more to do with the human behind the dog. A restless dog is more likely to bark more. A dog who is well exercised and secure is going to bark less.

Dogs are starving on the road. Isn’t it better to put them out of their misery and kill them?
Children are starving as well. The old, the sick, the crippled, the ones who are alone, criminals, bankrupts, jobless….most people lead a life of misery, whether real or imagined. Trees have a terrible life stuck in one place, their leaves and branches cut, urinated upon etc. Shall we cut them all down? Shall we use this method for all beings?

How can you tell if your dog is not feeling well?
Sick can mean he has the runs and isn’t quite himself, or sick can mean sudden lethargy, dehydration, and fevers. Issues such as diarrhoea or vomiting can be either issues relating to your dog’s health or it could mean that your dog is sick. Symptoms of dehydration and fever require vet care. These can both be an indication of infection or serious illness and treatment should not be delayed. Alternatively, lethargy and listlessness can be either a sign of illness or emotional distress. A pup can go on a hunger strike over a change of food or environment, or can lose his appetite when he is sick. You have to look at the other symptoms of dehydration — moisture from the eyes, a dry nose, hot ears and stomach.

Is there any law that protects monkeys from madaris and insures their welfare?
No private person in India is allowed to capture, own, buy, sell, train or show any wild animals for public exhibition. The animals that are used by madaris; i.e. monkeys, snakes, bears, mongooses, parakeets are all protected by the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Section 22 of the Performing Animals Rules of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, is also applicable. Since, both are cognisable offences, the madaris can be arrested on the spot, and the animal handed over to the Wildlife Dept, Zoo or a Local Animal Welfare Shelter. In the case of healthy snakes, mongooses or birds, the animals should be released in a jungle.

Pet-iquette

By Maneka Gandhi

 

Q: Is it okay to give pets food that contains salt and sugar?A: Eating too much salt can cause excessive thirst and urination and lead to sodium ion poisoning in pets. Symptoms of too much salt include vomiting, depression, tremors, diarrhoea, elevated body temperature, and seizures. It may even cause death. Sugar can have the same effect on pets as on humans. It can lead to obesity, dental problems, and possibly the onset of diabetes.

Q: Horses being used in wedding processions, walking in the middle of the loud band music are common sights. Is a horse not affected by the loud sounds?
A: Horses are extremely sensitive to loud sounds. It is extremely painful for them because a horse in the wild is a prey animal — like a deer — it can hear things at a higher pitch than humans. Chronic exposure to loud noises can cause hearing loss as it does in humans.

Q: Should a female cat be allowed to have a litter before she is spayed?
A: No. There is absolutely no benefit to the cat in doing this. Spaying a cat before her first litter, or better yet, before her first heat, is easier and safer. Recent evidence also suggests that spaying a cat before six months significantly decreases her risk of mammary (breast) cancer.

Q: When I bathe my dog should I scrub his head and face as well?
A: It is very dangerous for water to enter your dog’s ears or for soap to enter the eyes. So it is better for you to sponge the dogs head carefully with very little water.

Q: Is it okay to keep a St. Bernard in India ?
A: It is as okay as your having to wear a fur coat and standing in the sun the whole day. St Bernards are meant to be in the snow bound Alps. They have no tolerance for heat at all. They will be miserable, hot, and their coats will attract fleas and ticks. Get a St. Bernard if you like, but it will die in less than two years after you have been stripped of all your money by a local vet. And be prepared for a huge air-conditioning bill and lots of hair on all the furniture.

http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report_pet-iquette_1652442 

HC comes to activists’ rescue

Bombay High Court orders police to provide protection and assistance to animal lovers fighting for Jeevraksha and Lila Parulekar 

Members of the Jeevraksha Animal Welfare Trust were accorded some relief on Wednesday as the Bombay High Court directed Commissioner of Police Meeran Borwankar to provide protection and all necessary assistance to the activists and Animal Welfare Officers who have been fighting to preserve the shelter and its inhabitants. 

 

In September, 2011 Pronoti Vyas, an animal rights activist from Satara, had moved the HC to get justice for sole surviving trustee Lila Parulekar and the animals she has rescued. Reports have shown that Parulekar is living in pitifully unhygienic conditions, with nearly 200 sick and infected dogs roaming freely around the house. As per the petition, some of the activists had also noticed the bodies of dogs being dumped in an abandoned factory. 

 

Vyas also alleged that Parulekar’s property had been taken over by a trustee of Sakal Papers Ltd. A committee was formed and an inquiry was conducted as per the HC’s orders. The committee, headed by animal rights officer Supriya Bose had submitted a report, stating that the shelter was in complete disarray and the animals were being neglected. 

 

Following this, Maneka Gandhi personally intervened and asked that her NGO, People for Animals, be allowed to take responsibility for the animals. On December 2, 2011, the court ordered Gandhi and her NGO to take charge of the animals. However, this order was allegedly ignored by the respondents, which include Sakal Papers, the animal welfare board, advocate Sunil Kadam and others. According to activists, they refused to acknowledge the order altogether. 

 

The activists then approached the police and were ‘advised’ them to keep out of the matter. They even approached the Commissioner Borwankar, but to no avail. On Wednesday, when the application came before the Chief Justice, it was clear that the court’s orders had been blatantly violated, that employees of Sakal Papers and Sunil Kadam were involved in obstructing the order and the police too had failed to help. 

 

Jeetesh Jotwani, founder, Jeevaraksha said, “Since November 2010, the animals have been neglected. This order should pave the path for their proper care and restoration of the shelter to its previous standards.”     

 

Manoj Oswal, volunteer and animal welfare officer said, “I am happy for the animals and I expect help from the police as well.” When contacted, Police Commissioner Meeran Borwankar said, “The HC order hasn’t reached me yet, but once it does, we are ready to cooperate.” 

Maneka Gandhi offers to attend to activist Parulekar’s pets

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/maneka-gandhi-offers-to-attend-to-activist-parulekars-pets/882614/

Member of Parliament Maneka Gandhi has stepped in to look after animals at the Pune home of noted animal rights activist Claude Lila Parulekar (78), who was allegedly confined to her house.

Parulekar is now in her Queen’s Road bungalow in Pune with 150-200 rescued animals, including dogs and cows who have no trained staff to look after them. The conditions, as stated by her friend Pranoti Vyas, are very unhygienic for a person with low immunity.

Gandhi, the chairperson of the People for Animals organisation, has said in her intervention application that Parulekar, the sole trustee of the Jeevraksha Animal Welfare Trust, is her “long time friend”. Gandhi has said that her NGO wished to offer immediate relief to the animals at Parulekar’s home in order to prevent further harm to them.

Gandhi’s intervention application states, “The current situation if allowed as it is, the animals may perish and the loss would be not just in terms of lives, but will also fail the efforts of the lifetime of a woman who never married, never had children, lived like a sadhvi and loved the animals unconditionally. That would be a waste of her lifetime efforts, which is not fair to Parulekar or her animals.”

Gandhi urged the court to allow her to attend to the animals.

Pranoti Vyas, a food-technologist from Satara, had moved the Bombay High Court through her lawyers Jamshed Mistry and Pradeep Havnur, seeking directions to the disability commissioner to take action for urgent assistance to Parulekar, who suffers from a number of ailments including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, left-paralysis, urinary tract infection and low immunity.

Vyas has also stated that Parulekar is in the “clutches of the Pawar group” — led by Pratap Pawar, brother of Union Minister Sharad Pawar — who “initially tried to grab the property and shares of Lila in Sakal Papers Ltd and have literally taken over possession of her person and many of her assets.”

Pursuant to court directions, Mistry said, Parulekar was taken to a Pune hospital and examined by doctors who said she is still in need of care. Vyas’s petition will be heard on December 9.

HC allows Maneka to take care of Lila’s animals

http://www.indianexpress.com/story_mobile.php?storyid=883549 

The Bombay High Court on Friday approved the intervention application filed by MP Maneka Gandhi, chairperson of animal rights organisation People For Animals( PFA), to look after the animals at the home and shelter of animal rights activist Claude Lila Parulekar (78).

On December 2, Newsline had reported that Gandhi had filed an application to provide help to the animals at the shelter located on Queen’s Road, Pune. In the application, it is stated that the volunteers of PFA Pune and the Jeev Raksha Support Group are willing to provide immediate relief to the animals of Jeevraksha. Manoj Oswal, animal welfare officer and member of PFA Pune, said, “We will now put together a team to manage the shelter and prevent further harm and neglect to the animals.”

Some of the crucial matters the team will look into include maintaining database and preparing medical case papers of the 150-200 animals at the shelter, assisting in day-to-day work, urgent isolation of sick and diseased animals in proper enclosures which need to be built, vaccinations and implementation of animal birth control programme in coordination with other NGOs.

In the application, Gandhi had stated: “The current situation if allowed as it is, the animal may perish and the loss would be not just in terms of loss of innocent lives but it will fail the efforts of the lifetime of a lady who never married, never had children, lived like a sadhvi, all for her unconditional love for her animals. That would be a waste of the lifetime efforts of Lila.” Parulekar, who was allegedly confined to her house, suffers from a number of ailments, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease.

UGC calls for stop to dissection of animals

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110825/jsp/nation/story_14422084.jsp

New Delhi, Aug. 24: The UGC has adopted fresh guidelines to phase out dissection of and experimentation on live animals in zoology and life science courses.

In a July 8 meeting, the higher education regulator accepted an expert panel’s recommendations for immediate reduction in use of animal species for dissection and use of computer-simulated models in its place.

 Frog dissection software

 

The committee was headed by H.A. Ranganath, the director of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council.The UGC guidelines are, however, recommendatory in nature and will not apply to medical studies. They will shortly be sent to colleges and universities for adoption.

 

“The UGC guidelines are recommendatory in nature. We hope the institutions will adopt the guidelines,” an official said. The minutes of the UGC meeting said the commission had dwelt on the expert panel’s recommendation “to consider discontinuation of dissection and experiments on live animals in zoology/life sciences”.

 

“The commission further decided that simulation of experiments be encouraged in the institution of higher education and resources necessary for the implementation of this recommendation may be allocated during the XII plan period.”

Ranganath said the panel had recommended several models for discontinuation of dissection and experiments on animals. At the undergraduate level, students would be advised not to do any dissection. But faculty could use one species for demonstration purposes.

At the postgraduate level, students would have the option of dissecting select species. But institutions would be advised to work on development of computer-simulated models as an alternative.

“You cannot stop dissection of animals in labs overnight. It has to be done in a phased manner. We have recommended different models,” Ranganath told The Telegraph.

He said the new guidelines would not affect the quality of education in zoology and life sciences. Rather, they would address concerns expressed by cross sections of the academic community and the public about torture of animals.

BJP MP Maneka Gandhi had cited the provisions of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972, and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and sought a ban on dissection of animals. The UGC then set up the committee under Ranganath to consider if the practice could be scrapped.

The committee has also suggested that all institutions set up dissection-monitoring committees. Academic Yashpal has, however, disagreed with the UGC. “Dissection is a world-wide practice, including the US and Europe. You should not discontinue it completely but you should reduce the number of animals being used for dissection.”

 

Citing the example of animals being used for clinical trials, he said the practice was required to develop medicine for human beings. “Cruelty to animal cannot be the reason to ban such trials. Then you block development of medicines,” Yashpal said.