VMD 511: Animal Welfare, Ethics and Jurisprudence (2+0)

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS - ANIMAL WELFARE DIVISION

Under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, GoI, the Animal Welfare Division is entrusted with the implementation of the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (59 of 1960). Plan Schemes are in operation for implementation of the statutory obligations under this Act. Two statutory organizations viz. Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and committee for the Purpose of Supervision and Control of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA) have also been set up under this Act. The mandate of the Animal Welfare Division is to prevent the infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering on animals.

• Under the scheme for shelter houses for looking after the animals, grant is provided to establish and maintain shelter houses for distressed animals in the country. Primarily, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCAs) are given grants of upto Rs.22.50 lakhs for construction of boundary walls, shelters, water tank, drains, in-house dispensary, medical equipment, contingencies etc. In the current financial year, 13 shelter houses have been constructed up to November 2007.
• In the current financial year, under the Scheme for Birth Control and lmmunization of Stray Dogs, 33,222 animal birth control operations have been conducted upto November 2007.
• Under the Scheme for Provision of Ambulance Services to Animals in Distress, 22 ambulances have been given to Animal Welfare Organisations (AWOs) upto November , 2007.
• The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has granted recognition to 55 newly established Animal Welfare organizations (AWOs) during the year.