Assam is a North Eastern state of India. During the lockdown the government of Assam led by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has taken the much needed step to issue feeding passes to the caregivers to feed the stray animals. The goverment is issuing passes to both the animal welfare NGOs and individuals who are volunteering to feed.
This Noble gesture that too coming by the state government is quite commendable and needs appreciation. The govt is working in coordination with the Animals welfare NGOs in order to protect and preserve their fauna who will probably die out of hunger and thirst during this 21 day lockdown period if they are not fed. They have advised all the caregivers to maintain social distancing while feeding.
Telangana is another state of India where the animal welfare NGO PAWA (Peace for Animal Association) is issuing feeding passes to the caregivers and volunteers who wish to feed the stray animals during lockdown.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/telanganatoday.com/lockdown-stray-animals-face-starvation/amp
Mrs Maneks Gandhi, Member of Parliament and former Union Minister for Women and Child has given a list contacts for the states where caregivers can go and get the feeding passes made. She and her animal welfare organization PFA were the first ones to issue feeder passes in Delhi. Her constant and undying zeal for protecting animals and giving them a life of dignity and love has always been an inspiration for many animal lovers in India.
It's very unfortunate that while crores of rupees is being sanctioned by various state governments to feed the migrants and the homeless during the lockdown not much is going for feeding the stray.
For a country like India where a vast majority is poor this kind of financial constraint for animals is quite understandable.
But what breaks the heart is the attitude of the state governments towards the animals.
The honourable prime minister made a public appeal to feed the stray animals during the lockdown. But except the state government of Rajasthan and Assam no other state or Union Territory has made such a public appeal.
Why do the chief ministers forget that they are heading a state which includes it's people as well as it's animals. They have some responsibility towards their animals too. In such a situation where the animals too may die due to starvation. Isn't it the responsibility of the state to ensure that they do not die of starvation?
Ideally they should have given financial aid and used the services of municipal corporation in feeding the stray of roads and market areas which have been shut down due to lockdown but will that happen......
Seems quite doubtful.
The least the chief ministers could do was to make a public appeal to feed the animals in and around the colony so as to keep them alive.
Already the volunteers are feeding a large number of animals which is both physically and financially taxing on them .
If the whole colony starts feeding the dogs in their respective area then this burden can be easily reduced.
The least the state governments can do is to assist and cooperate with the caregivers in feeding the animals by issuing them feeding passes preferably e passes. And by asking people not to oppose or stop feeders from feeding the dogs. They often face a lot of resistance from their own neighbours and RWAs.
Not all is bad in India. There are brave hearts who are feeding the voiceless and saving their lives and that too with the help of the administrstion. You got to watch it to believe it.
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