Panaji: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has supported the call from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), India, for a ban on all forms of manja , including cotton threads coated with glass, metal or other sharp materials.
An open letter by both organisations read, “The IMA is aware of the National Green Tribunal (NGT)'s judgement dated July 11, 2017, which banned Chinese, nylon and plastic threads. However, as doctors who have been treating patients with manja injuries, we strongly recommend that cotton threads coated with glass, metal or any sharp material be banned too, as they are equally dangerous and capable of causing injuries or death to humans.”
Sachin Bangera, Associate Director of Celebrity and Public Relations, PETA India, said his organisation will forward the letter in the form of an appeal by IMA to all State governments as well as the the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for immediate action.
In a statement, Nikunj Sharma, PETA Public Policy Lead, said, “Glass-coated manja causes injuries and death in humans and birds, just as the banned varieties do, so they must also be prohibited in the interest of public safety and wildlife protection.” The prohibition on the use of synthetic and nylon manja was a life-saving step, but human and animal casualties will continue to occur till all dangerous varieties are banned, he said.
PETA India had earlier filed a petition with NGT, and in December 2016, the tribunal issued an interim ban on the production, sale, procurement, and import of all forms of manja . It allowed kite-flying to be done with a plain cotton thread. However, on July 11, 2017, NGT diluted its earlier interim order by excluding from the ban cotton thread coated with glass, which it appeared to consider “degradable” material. Following PETA India's push, in January 2017, the Government of Delhi banned all forms of sharp manja and permitted only plain cotton threads free of any sharp coating to be used for kite-flying.
In 2014, MoEF&CC issued an advisory to all states and union territories asking them to address the threat posed by manja , and in 2013, the Animal Welfare Board of India too urged them to ban it.
Mr. Bangera said manja kills thousands of birds, which often remain tangled in trees or buildings for weeks.
