All Animal Lover Should Avail Animal Feeding Pass/ ID Cards from District Administration

Implement AWBI Advisory & Support of Public Health Security by Animal Care - No Animals Should Die Without Food and Water: Girish J. Shah

Pashu Sandesh, 8th March 2020; Mumbai( Maharashtra)

Dr R B Chaudhary

During lock-down situation to ensure the public health from coronavirus infection, the Government of India is not only worried about the human beings but also concerned with animals care by providing feed, fodder, water and securing health care services to avoid the death of animals too to prevent zoonotic diseases, stated by Girish J. Shah, Member of Animal Welfare Board of India(AWBI) and Managing Trustee of Mumbai based environmental NGO - Samast Mahajan (national award winner). He said that all the State Government has to strictly follow the directions/advisory issued by the Central Government to ensure the public health security while he was sending a reminder to all the States/UTs.

Shah said that the Chairman, Animal Welfare Board of India has issued an advisory on 20.3.2020  stating that all the State Government and the department concerned or district administration to follow directions issued by the AWBI and accordingly, the arrangements to be ensured for food/feed and water to all the large and small animals during lock-down for the safety animals to not die without food and water because the death of the animals would create another problem for public health.

Detailing the advisory issued by Ministry of the Animal Husbandry, Daring and Fisheries to all the States/UTs and directed " Feed and fodder for large animals and food for companion and stray animals is an essential service and may be kept operational during lock-downs. District Administration may, if need be, allot specific time during the morning and evening hours for indls/ volunteers to provide food and water for street animals and birds. This is a valuable service consistently provided by compassionate indi viduals and the absence of it may cause a large number of animals and birds to suffer and die and carcasses of the dead animals and birds may further spread different diseases amongst community which will be difficult to control".

The advisory further directed -"The necessary direction to all concerned authorities to create awareness amongst the public to take care of stray animals during the lockdown due to COVID-19. The law enforcement authorities may also be directed to see that the animals and birds do not suffer due to hunger. A copy of the direction issued in this regard may also be forwarded to the board for information".Shah has requested the animal lovers, volunteers, animal welfare organisations and goshala workers to feed the animals and birds to be taken care of by feeding and watering regularly. The local administration throughout the country is issuing pass/ID card to feed the abandoned animals in their street or location /animal shelter. If anyone is having any difficulty and unable to avail animal feeding pass or card, he should contact his district veterinary officer or district collector by sending an email copy to  Animal Welfare Board of India(animalwelfareboard@gmail.com) for the immediate support to get animal feeding facility

For more details 

GIRISH JAYANTILAL SHAH 

Member - Animal Welfare Board of India

 Government of India 

Mobile:+91 98200 20976

Dr R B Chaudhary,

Media Advisor - Samast Mahajan, Mumbai)

Former Media Head/ Editor-AWBI, Government of India