PASHUDHAN PRAHAREE NETWORK: Mar 26, 2020,
Centre issues directive after activists raised concern about the deteriorating health of the stray animals in the absence of food and water.
As most of India was put under lockdown to contain the spread of deadly Coronavirus, activists raised concerns about stray animals dying of hunger, following which the Centre issued an order listing veterinary assistance under the essential services.
“It is requested that veterinary hospitals and dispensaries in states, including private veterinary clinics, veterinary pathologies, animal shelters etc. function in the normal course and the veterinary services be considered in the list of ‘Essential Services’,” stated the directive issued by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying on Monday.
Animal activists have suggested individuals/volunteers be allowed to feed animals and birds twice a day during the lockdown,
Dr. Arun kr. jha, the Secretary of JAWS (Jamshedpur Animal Welfare Society ) told Pashudhan Praharee that people aren’t able to feed the stray animals due to the lockdown. Consequently, health of several stray animals is deteriorating, he said.
The animal lovers then raised this concern before AWBI Chairman Dr O P Chaudhary who wrote to the chief secretaries of the all states and union territories, asking that the district administration allot a specific time twice a day for individuals/volunteers to feed street animals and birds, Dr. Jha said.
He also requested that authorities create awareness among the public and appeal to the law enforcement agencies to take care of stray animals till the lockdown ends.
Meanwhile, Sriniwash singh, Secretary, Pashupalak Sangha, Jharkhand & Dr AK Jha, secretary of JAWS, an NGO based at Jamshedpur, on Tuesday started distributing food like biscuits and rice to animal lovers for them to feed over 3,000 stray dogs, cats and bovines in Jamshedpur district.
The JAWS has made a list of at least 100 such people to whom they will supply the food items for the animals.
