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ANIMAL WELFARE BOARD OF INDIA

 

 

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International Wildlife Week, Oct. 1-7, 1999

 

The Animal Welfare Board of India was set up in 1962 with its headquarter at

Madras, under the provisions of the "Prevention of Cruely to Animals Act,1960"

(PCA Act, 1960). The Board consis of 28 members reprsenting Government of

India, the veterinary profession, municipal bodies, practitioners of modern and

indigenous systems of medicine, Animal Welfare Organisations of the country and

humanitarians. Two members of Rajya Sabha and 4members of Lok Sabha are on the

Board. It is an autonomous body working under the administrative control of the

Ministry of Environment and Forests.

 

 

Main functions of the Board are :

 

a.. To keep the law in force in India for the Prevention of curelty to

animals under constant study and advise the Government on the amendements to be

undertaken in any such law form time to time.

 

b.. To advise the Central Government on the making of rules under this Act

with a view to preventing unncecessary pain or suffering to animals generally,

and more particularly when they are being transported form one place to another

or when they are used as performing animais or when they are kept in captivity

or confinement:

 

c.. To advise the Government or any local authority or other persons on

improvements in the design of vehicles so as to lessen the burden on draught

animals:

 

d.. To take all such steps as the Board may think fit for amelioration of

animals by encouraging or providing for the construction of sheds,

waterthroughs and the like and by providing for veterinary assistance to

animals:

 

e.. To advise the Government or any local authority or other persons in the

design of slaughter-housesor in connection with slaughter of animals so that

unnecessary pain of suffering, whether physical or mental, is eliminated in the

pre-slaughter stages so far as possible, and animals are killed wherever

necessary, in as humane a manner as possible.

 

f.. To take all such steps as the Board may think fit to ensure that unwanted

animals are destroyed by local authorities, whenever it is necessary to do so,

either instantaneously or after being rendered insensible to ain or suffering:

 

g.. To encourage by the grant of financial assistance or otherwise, the

formation or establishment of pinjrapoles, rescue homes, animals shelters,

sanctuaries, and the like where animals and birds may find a shelter when they

have become old and useless or when they need protection;

 

h.. To co-operate with, and co-ordinate the work of associations or bodies

established for the purpose of preventing unnecessary pain or suffering to

animalsor for the protection of animals and birds;

 

i.. To give financial and other assistance to animal welfare organisations

functioning in any local area or to encourage the formation of animal welfare

organisations in any locla area which shall work under the general suervision

and guidance of the Board;

 

j.. To advise the Government on matters relating to the medical care and

attention which may be provided in animal hospitals and to give financial and

other assiatance to animal hospitals whenever the Board thinks it necessary to

do so;

 

k.. To impart education in relation to the humane treatment of animals and to

encourage the formation of public opinion against the infliction of unnecessary

ain or suffering to animals and for the promotion of animal welfare by means of

lectures, books, posters, cinematograhic exhibitions and the like ; and

 

l.. To advise the Government on any matter connected with animal welfare or

the revention of infliction of unecessary pain or suffering on animals.

 

Activities of the Board during the year were as follows:

 

a.. In order to involve the State Government in animal welfare activities and

to effectively implement the PCA Act, 1960 all the State Governments were

requested to constitute State Advisory Boards for Animal Welfare and to apoint

Nodal officers. Twenty four States/U.Ts have so far notified the formation of

such Advisory Boards and 30 States have appointed Nodal Officer for animal

welfare.

 

b.. The Board has appointed about 2600 Honorary Animal Welfare officers up to

the end of 1995, to check cruelty being inflicted on animals and to protect

them.

 

c.. The Animal Welfare Board of India, in collaboration with the Royal

Society for revention of Cruelty to Animals, United Kingdom, has been

concluding a series of training programmes of 5 days duration each in different

parts of the country to educate and train the members of SPCAs/Animal Welfare

Organisations, staff of other relevant departments and the general public and

to generate public awareness. During the year 1995, 130 such cams have been

held in different parts of the country.

 

d.. To prevent brutal killing of stray dogs by municipalities etc., the Board

has undertaken a scheme of Animal Birth Control in six metropolitan cities viz.

Delhi, Mumbai,Calcutta, Madras, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Thirteen thousand five

hundred sterilizations were carried out on stray dogs under this scheme.

 

e.. The Board celebrates Animal Welfare fortnight from 14th January every

year. During this period,rallies for the cause of animal welfare, painting

competitions, radio talks, film-shows etc. are arranged.

 

f.. A delegation activities interested in promoting Animal Welfare led by the

Chairman, Animal Welfare Board of India called on the President of India on

13th January, 1966 for the inauguration of the Animal Welfare Fortnight. The

President inaugurated the sale odf mercy stamps, the proceeds of which were

used for animal welfare activities.

 

g.. In order to facilitate the implementation of PCA Act, 1960 and to involve

various organisations in the cause of animal welfare, the Board confers

recognisation to Animal Welfare organisations of the country. Three hundred

such organisation have been recognised so far and financial assistance was

sanctioned to 164 Animal Welfare Organisations, during the year.

 

h.. The Eighth Plan Outlay for Animal Welfare has been enhanced from Rs. 3.00

crores to Rs. 6.50 crores.

 

i.. The budget allocation for the Animal Welfare Board of India for the year

1995-96 is Rs. 168 lakhs.

 

 

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For further information, please contact :

 

Animal Welfare Board of India

4th Street, No. 7, 11 Cross Street

Venus Colony, ALWARPET

MADRAS - 600 018 INDIA

Phone # 91-44-455619, 453628

Fax # 91-44-455973

 

 

 

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