NEW
INITIATIVES FOR ANIMAL WELFARE
NEW
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ANIMAL WELFARE TO OFFER DEGREE COURSES
PARLIAMENTARY
CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE DISCUSS VARIOUS ISSUES
The Parliamentary Consultative Committee of Ministry
of Environment and Forests has endorsed a proposal to set up a
‘Trust’ for mobilizing resources from various quarters to step
up animal welfare activities. The proposal was made by the Environment
and Forests Minister Shri T.R. Baalu while reviewing the Animal
Welfare Department’s activities at the Committee meeting here
today. He said that though the allocation for animal welfare has
gone up from Rs. 61.85 crore in 9th Five Year Plan
to Rs. 181.50 crore in 10th Five Year Plan, more resources
were required to effectively address the cause of animal welfare.
The Minister also asked the Department to draw up a comprehensive
plan for taking up Animal Welfare Awareness Campaign throughout
the country in a sustained manner till adequate level of sensitisation
was achieved. Shri Baalu stressed the need to launch the Trust
and Awareness Campaign at the earliest.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Shri Baalu informed
the Committee that the National Institute of Animal Welfare (NIAW)
being established near Ballabgarh, Haryana will offer Bachelor’s
degree courses in Animal Welfare from the next academic year.
The Rs. 8.73 crore institute is being set up to impart education
in animal welfare in a holistic and professional manner in view
of the intrinsic value of animals to economy and environment.
Courses to be offered include Psychology of Animal Behaviour,
Animal, Bird Care, Shelter and Zoo Management, Water and Forest
Management, Animal Economics, Transportation of Animals, Animal
Anatomy etc. The institute will also offer specialized diplomas,
short and medium term training courses besides post graduate and
doctoral programmes.
Shri Baalu said that experimentation on animals will
be regulated through reduction in number of animals used, replacement
of use of animals and refinement in techniques (3Rs). The Minister
informed the Committee that the number of Societies for Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals (SPCAs) has increased from 145 in 2001 to
307 at present. Besides, 24 States have established Animal Welfare
Boards (AWBs).
Expressing concern over several States still not
providing budgetary support for animal welfare schemes, Shri Baalu
urged them to do so in right earnest.
