Panel on animal cruelty headed by collector meets after more than a year

The last time the collector convened a meeting of the Prani Klesh Pratibandhak Samiti, a statutory committee formed to address issues related to protection of animals, was in November 20, 2009. The collector and members of the committee met on Saturday after a gap of over an year to discuss cases related to animal rights over last year. Considering the long hiatus, one is forced to question the seriousness of authorities about preventing cruelty to animals.

Those at the meeting included members representing various NGOs, RTO, police and animal husbandry department. One key issue discussed was the illegal slaughtering of animals, which continues unabated in the city. Two animal rights activists were recently subjected to a thrashing for trying to save 40 buffaloes from being slaughtered. The cops later arrested eight attackers, charging them with riot, assault and threatening.

The collector directed animal lovers and activists to register complaints and seek legal intervention to curb such incidents, according to a source at the meeting. The activists pointed out that several accused in animal cruelty cases go scot-free due to poor implementation of the law, largely due to ignorance and lack of interest on the part of RTO and police. The collector agreed to call a special meeting of police and RTO officials to create awareness among them regarding animal protection laws.

"All that the RTO does is levy a meagre fine of Rs 100 on vehicles carrying animals for slaughter. They do not even bother to ask if the vehicle owner has a fitness certificate for the animals being ferried," alleged activists.

The animal birth control programme run by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) too was discussed, where activists pointed out that the sterilised stray dogs should be given at least 10-15 days of post-surgery care.

The collector also sought details of the number of cases registered with the police and RTO with regard to animal protection and care.

Another key issue discussed was that of poisoning of more than 40 dogs at the government mental hospital. The accused were granted bail and continue to report to work since no action was taken against them by the authorities. "The collector acknowledged having received a letter from the Animal Welfare Board of India regarding this matter and said that he would forward a letter on behalf of the committee to the authorities," informed the source.

The activists also put forward a demand for a veterinary doctor to be available round the clock to administer first aid and health care to animals rescued during operations. "In the absence of doctors, we have to run around and it results in delay in administering medical aid to the animal," they said.

Dr SB Shankar, deputy commissioner, animal husbandry department, said that decisions taken during the meeting will be conveyed to the respective departments and efforts to curb cases of cruelty will continue. He, however, said he did not have any powers to take stern action. "Individual cases are being handled by respective police stations," he said.

Repeated efforts to contact collector Pravin Darade for his views regarding these issues failed.

Meanwhile, the NMC has agreed to grant a mobile animal ambulance to NGOs to provide first aid and health care to big animals rescued during operations. The van, the size of a city bus, is being manufactured at a workshop, informed a source. NMC has sanctioned Rs 2 lakh for the same.

As per the agreement, NMC will pay the wages of the driver and helper and provide for fuel costs while the NGOs providing animal care services will pay for the doctors and medicines administered to rescued big animals.