(IN) Bull fights in Goa

[Guest guest]

For over two decades, Norma Alvares has done amazing things in Goa.

 

Whether it was fighting to stop the dogs being shot with muzzle-loaders on

the streets of Goa twenty years ago; stopping Dhirio (Goa's version of

bull fights) about 15 years ago by court intervention; or help formulating

the four Rs for laboratory animals - India is the first country to go

beyond Reduction, Refinement and Replacement and introduce Rehabilitation

as a necessary cost of animal abuse in labs - she has been there.

 

I have had the pleasure of working with her on many Central Government

Committees and for two terms on the Animal Welfare Board of India and two

terms on the CPCSEA. She is a most meticulous worker and her legal

training and acumen showed. I know the financial and other demands these

Committees and other Boards involve because they are done on a purely

honorary basis.

 

However, her most outstanding piece of work was in preventing the

finalisation of rules to help circuses continue using wild animals by a

massive filibuster when she spoke for over 100 minutes at the final

meeting of the Committee whose last sitting was mandated that day. If

these rules had passed, it would perhaps have permitted even the banned

species of leopards, tigers, lions, bears and monkeys being used again.

 

While congratulating the Minister for Environment for foiling this latest

attempt to turn the closk back by re-introducing bull fights in Goa, let

us remembers Padma Shri Norma Alvares' contributions over the decades.

Please do write to both of them.

 

Thanks

 

S. Chinny Krishna