We Vegeterian People

Author(s): Atul Doshi
Publisher: Atul Doshi

Page 17

What do we know about animal protection laws in India? Are we making a mockery of animal protection?
India, a country from which has originated the word 'ahimsa' apparently needs to have animal protection laws to please her citizens and keep them quiet, but there are a lot loopholes in the form of built-in laws which ultimately makes these laws redundant.
As per Clause-51 G of Indian constitution- it is the duty of all citizens to have compassion for animals but Clause- 38 A states "the State shall 'endeavour' to organize agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall, in particular take steps for preserving and improving the breeds and prohibiting the slaughter of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle.
Our base, Indian Constitution, is purposely diluted while dealing with animal laws. On weak base, all other laws will be superficial and it will not give desired result.
Let us look at two laws which deals with animal welfare :1. Department of Animal Husbandry Dairying & Fisheries which looks after matters relating to livestock production, preservation, protection and improvement of stocks -is giving Capital subsidy of 50% to rural slaughter houses 2. The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) is a statutory advisory body on Animal Welfare Laws and promotes animal welfare in the country. It is eestablished in 1962 under Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. AWBI's preamble mentions - Compassion to all Living Creatures. AWBI does very good work, but some of activities AWBI includes
• advise the Government or any local authority in the design of slaughter houses or the maintenance of slaughter houses or in connection with slaughter of animals so that unnecessary pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is eliminated in the pre- slaughter stages as far as possible, and animals are killed, wherever necessary, in as humane a manner as possible.
making stringent rules for transportation of animals to slaughter houses • AWBI states that training is extremely important for butchers to be them trained for humane slaughter.
• As per AWBI note- huge increase in both, human and animal population is resulting in increased man - animal conflict.
•
Animals do not vote...
who will speak for them?? who will listen?
Speak
Up
They cannot speak for themselves
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