Dear All
Yesterday many NCR based animal NGOs involved in the ABC/ Rescue/Rehabilitation/medical assistance held a meeting at JNU lawns. It was very kind of Gen. Kharb, Chairperson Animal Welfare Board of India to have consented to attend it and give a hearing to the problems troubling animal lovers and obstructing the functioning of ABC. Important outcomes of this relaxed and positive lunchtime meeting are given below for everyone’s information;
1. ABC is being resumed from 1st Feb.in Gurgaon and MCG’s MoU with Frendicoes is finally being extended but at the old rate of Rs.550/-Gen. Kharb assured that this would get increased to Rs.750 within two months or so hopefully.Frendicoes would operate with an outside international organization and there would be no release on the same day after surgery. This assurance came as a big relief for everyone.
2. Dog feeders are protected by law as per the Delhi High Court Notification and Feb.20, 2014 AWBI Guidelines which laid down that ‘prohibiting dog feeding tantamount to criminal intimidation’.
3. Animal lovers should consolidate the movement and should not individualize or personalize this movement,they should work at a policy level as much as the ground level since coming times may not be very favourable for stray animals.
4. The ABC Case and hearing on the Bombay High Court judgement on dog killing is coming up next fortnight. Considering the awful publicity against dogs played by the ill-informed/bribed reporters and correspondents there is great likelihood that dog killing may be allowed selectively. We discussed a realistic golden mean for NGO monitored selective pikup of dogs who are tainted as habitual biters and send them for rehabilitation and training for some time rather than get them killed. We need to meet newspaper editors/ channel managers for identifying such reporters who promote negative and thoughtless, ill-informed anti-dog publicity for generating fear amongst residents.
5. Concern was raised for cats and currently no NGO focuses on cats the way they do for dogs. The result is that every locality has an imbalance of dog-cat population in which cats are brutally killed and their kittens shredded by packs of dogs.Suggestions invited as a sustainable solution is still a far cry.
6. Horses and donkeys is also a grave concern. Frendicoes shared many policy issues and lack of funds. Everyone suggested that the Donkey Sanctuary (Dr. Nath) is also working in Gurgaon and beyond institutional divides one could share space, expertise and support with Frendicoes to make the programme actually effective for the animal.The Sai Ashram and Frendicoes shared common concerns and opened up for joint support for animals wherever possible.
7. Walk for Animals and Habitat drew a joint programme of animal welfare at Gurgaon with Sai Ashram and Frendicoes. Each one would work in their special capacity, interest and inclination areas.
The atmosphere of the meeting was very congenial, tension free and all throughout NGOs kept their focus on animal welfare rather than narrow operational divides which diverts attention from the animal to winning an institutional war.
This is a very good start and for this our heartfelt thanks to the AWBI Chairperson Gen.Kharb for giving us time and patient hearing.
Maybe other NGOs could also attend these informal meetings next time and help consolidate this movement.
Wish you all the best
President
WAH Team (2013-2014)
(Amita Singh, Subhulaxmi Sircar, Kartika Singh, Sangeeta Luthra
Walk for Animal & Habitat
Launched 2009,August by Amita Singh, Blossom Hackett, Prema Swaminathan, Tulika Mehra, Varsha Sharma, Tushaar Bhardwaj , Vidya Sangwan , Benu Kalra and Subhulaxmi Sirkar to protect and provide for all animals who were thrown out of thie village and forest habitats as villages got converted into concrete cities. In the process of urbanization the city lost inclusive governance, social co-existence and ecological ethics. The cost of this insensitive FDI led development was paid by the voiceless animals who suffered destitution, starvation and extinction . The survivors were labelled as ‘stray’ as the city stole away all their habitats.
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Walk for Animal & Habitat
Launched 2009,August by Amita Singh, Blossom Hackett, Prema Swaminathan, Tulika Mehra, Varsha Sharma, Tushaar Bhardwaj , Vidya Sangwan , Benu Kalra and Subhulaxmi Sirkar to protect and provide for all animals who were thrown out of thie village and forest habitats as villages got converted into concrete cities. In the process of urbanization the city lost inclusive governance, social co-existence and ecological ethics. The cost of this insensitive FDI led development was paid by the voiceless animals who suffered destitution, starvation and extinction . The survivors were labelled as ‘stray’ as the city stole away all their habitats.
Hiranmay Karlekar