Union Minister Maneka Gandhi on Monday urged the State government to urgently set up units of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) owing to its ‘patchy’ performance in ensuring the safety of stray and captive animals.
Dog sterilisation drive
Ms. Gandhi made the statement during a meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and senior officials. She suggested that the government start a massive dog sterilisation drive under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme. Senior officials said the government promised Ms. Gandhi that it would set up a ABC centre in Mumbai. A senior official said, “We have promised the Minister plots of land in the districts to set up the SPCA units. A major ABC centre for sterilisation of stray dogs will come up in Mumbai and smaller centres in urban areas to shelter and rehabilitate rescued animals.”
Ms. Gandhi also urged the government to put in place infrastructure and teams to rescue and rehabilitate animals forced to travel and perform in circuses. The animals are chained and rarely receive veterinary care, Ms. Gandhi told the officials. An official said, “She asked us to provide shelter to the rescued animals in SPCA centres on a priority basis.”
Ms. Gandhi had earlier implemented a ban on the use of bears, monkeys, tigers, lions and panthers in circuses. However, she could not push the States to implement the regulations.
On Monday, she called for the implementation of laws to protect animals, including the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Wild Life Protection Act. An official said, “We have assured her of our commitment towards this cause.”
