The Development Minister Gopal Rai of the Delhi Govt has made a public appeal to the people of Delhi to provide food and water to the street animals and birds of Delhi. This news got viral on social media ( animal WhatsApp groups) on 17th May 2020 (pic in the post).
The public appeal is nowhere to be seen on the Delhi Govt website or on the website of the Development Ministry. Unless it has been missed. If anyone finds it then kindly update us and I will make the correction.
Below is the link to the Delhi Govt website:
Below is the link to the Development Dept of the Delhi Govt
http://web.delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/Lib_Development/development/home
the govt should have put it on their website. It's a very important piece of information for the caregivers and the COVID 19 warriors who are battling all by themselves to save their animals from starvation and thirst.
The appeal is definitely a new beginning and a positive step towards thousands of street animals living on the streets of Delhi.
But there is not much point in coming out with such an appeal if it does not reach to the masses especially the RWAs of Delhi. The appeal should reach the majority of the residents of Delhi otherwise it is pointless. It is they who should be joining the caregivers in feeding the stray. The caregivers are anyway feeding the animals with or without this appeal.
The appeal shall be beneficial only if every RWA with the cooperation of it's residents ensures that not a single stray animal and bird in and around their colony starves to death and they themselves do not pose hindrance to the caregivers which sadly they do.
The appeal shall be beneficial only if every policeman in Delhi cooperates and does not pose a hindrance to the feeder who feeds the animals and penalises those who obstruct the caregivers from feeding.
When we go on the website of the Development Department of the Delhi Govt we find that it constitutes of four parts:
Agriculture
Animal Husbandry
Fisheries
Rural Development
When we go on the animal husbandry page we find a lot of activities which the department is doing but there is no mention of the ABC programme. There is just a small mention of the word rabies. And the focus is primarily towards veterinary services.
Also the department seems not to be updating itself with latest information and letters which it may be receiving from the animal husbandry ministry or the environment ministry at the centre.
During COVID 19 lockdown three very important letters were issued by the centre. One by the Chairman, AWBI (dogs and cats do not spread COVID), another by the secretary, Animal Husbandry ministry ( Vet services shall be essential services) and third sent by the chairman, AWBI ( which said feeding street animals is an essential service). None of these letters are to be found on the website. Unless again I have missed it. Kindly update in case missed seeing.
Recently a very important letter regarding dog breeding and pet shops was sent by the AWBI, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Ministry at the centre. The letter said that dog breeders and pet shops cannot operate without getting themselves registered with their respective state animal welfare board. This very important letter is missing from the website of the Delhi Govt and the Development Dept, Animal Husbandry and it seems no such order has yet been given by the Govt for preventing illegal breeding and marketing. While other states like Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chattisgargh and Madhya Pradesh have already honoured the letter and order directives for registration with the respective state animal welfare board no such directive has yet been issued by the Delhi Govt or the Development Dept of the Govt. However, the website of the Development Dept has the Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules 2017.
Also if one tries to find the office of the Delhi Animal welfare Board it is no where to be found. If anyone knows the address and the contact details of such an office then kindly share. It may help the dog breeders and the pet shop owners of Delhi to register.
Also it will help all the caregivers of Delhi who are harassed by their neighbours and the RWAs for feeding the stray dogs of their area. They can at least start lodging complaints with the SAWB of dog cruelty and caregiver harassment.
What's the point of writing letters and making public appeals when they will only stay in the mailbox......never to be implemented.