(IN): NDTV Roaring for the tiger: India signs on

[Guest guest]

Link:

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080043487 & ch=3/10/2008\

%2012:28:00%20PM

 

Roaring for the tiger: India signs on

 

NDTV Correspondent

Sunday, March 9, 2008 (New Delhi)

NDTV's signature campaign to stop the alarming decline in the number of

tigers in India has got an overwhelming response.

 

More than 4,75,000 people signed on to show their support.

 

Now, the petition will be given to the Prime Minister and the Chief

Ministers. This is an important campaign as there are just about 1400 tigers

left in India.

 

The Tiger campaign was supported by Sanctuary Asia and Kids for Tigers

across the country.

 

NDTV held rallies all over India on Sunday in various schools, malls, stores

and cineplexes. Citizens and celebrities joined in to sign on the petition.

 

In just hundred years, tiger numbers have dwindled from 40,000 to less than

1400 and in the next five years we can either save or lose our tigers

altogether.

 

Here's what the government has done.

 

 

- A sum of Rs 1600 crore has been sanctioned for conservation in the

next five years. Of this, Rs 50 crore will be spent specifically on tigers.

 

- Soon after the census came out, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held

an emergency meeting of government officials where it decided that

henceforth the conservation of tigers in a state was the responsibility of

the chief minister.

 

But there's still a lot that needs to be done. Conservationists including

those with the Tiger Task Force have given their suggestions. Drastic

measures by the government are required to save our national animal from

extinction.

 

*Emergency measures needed: *

 

Saving the tiger must immediately become a Central responsibility, not the

states

Armed guards must protect our sanctuaries

Forest guards must be upgraded to police status

India's intelligence agencies must be used to stop poaching

 

We need our leaders and politicians to see the urgency of the problem and

declare an Emergency for the tiger.

 

The Prime Minister is head of the Wildlife Board, the highest decision

making body on these affairs and the Chief Ministers are responsible for the

tiger population in their states.

 

We want to make sure that the Centre takes over the responsibility of saving

the tiger, not the states. Armed guards must protect our sanctuaries and

India's intelligence agencies must be used to stop poaching.

 

 

--

United against elephant polo

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com