It's time the central Govt revises the 60 year old law which has not been revised since it's inception. The penalty amount is low and the punishment too not harsh enough to scare people of India to indulge into animal cruelty. Animals in India especially dogs are being abused and killed on a daily basis and each day it is the caregiver who has to fight a crowd of ignorant and ruthless people to protect his furry friend.
In last few days requests for amendment in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 has been made by several members of parliament to the Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Giriraj Singh. Let's hope the honourable Minister does not lose anymore time in amending the laws. This will save so many animal lives who die not only an untimely death but also a cruel and a painful death.
The amended law should also make provisions for higher penalties and punishments for RWAs and people who are the head of organizations / institutions / societies because being at the realm of affairs their responsibility and accountability becomes much higher than any common man of India.
We have recently seen that behind most of the dog cruelty cases it is the RWAs who have been the main culprits. They have no legal authority yet they behave as if they own the society and the building. They have put all kinds of boards to make the life of the caregiver miserable.
Very recently there was a case of a caregiver Swati (M-+91 98712 03025) from Mansarovar Park, Shahadra East Delhi where her own neighbours with the support and cooperation of the RWA had put boards which said that "we are fed up with the dogs and the bitch living here. Beware of dogs as they may bite". This was a direct assualt on Swati who is a lady.
It was PFA who intervened and got the boards removed and in its place put up posters of animal laws. This not only gave relief to Swati but also to the stray dogs living there.
According to Swati the animal law posters were very soon torn away. Although no one troubles her and her dogs but they are still living in an environment which is hostile towards them and the dogs.
She shared a pic of the boards (pic in the post) which the RWA of her area had installed about few months back. The RWA themselves chose the feeding points and asked the caregivers to feed only in the designated area. Just have a look at the board and you will know how swollen headed these people are. They have no legal power yet they think they can make their own laws and get them implemented. They have mentioned the RWA president and the General secretary on the bottom right of the board and mentioned SHO on the bottom left of the board. Imagine they are asking the caregivers to remove the water pots too once they have fed the dogs. Do they expect the dogs to knock at their door when they are thirsty and want water? Shouldn't the water bowls stay at permanently at one place so that whenever the dog is thirsty he may drink water from it. These RWAs have harassed and are still harassing many caregivers in the name of cleanliness.
Don't know if the SHO of the area gave them permission to put his name on the boards which are so anti dogs and anti caregivers. If the answer is yes then it's shameful and if the answer is no then the SHO should take action against the president and the genral secreatry. In either case these boards should be removed.
How on earth can the RWA decide on feeding points all by themselves without consulting the caregiver? Also Swati says that the feeding points are mostly in remote areas away from the residences. Generally near the garbage bins or dingy dark areas. On top of it there are dogs who cannot be fed in those areas as they all have their own territory.
Honestly making feeding points for stray dogs is the most foolish and clumsy idea because dog is a territorial animal. He has to be fed in his territory and not elsewhere.
Making common feeding point means starving the weaker dogs because the stronger ones will drive them away and attack them.
I heard today this wonderful Q&A which happened in the month of June between PFA founder and Member of Parliament and former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi and Madhavi Mishra. Mrs Gandhi has very well explained the negative role of RWA in dog cruelty and in caregiver harassment especially if the caregiver is a lady. She explains how RWAs have become the police of their colony and consider themselves the bosses and take law into their hands.
She is absolutely right in saying that the RWAs should be banned in India. They have no role in our country. The residents of India are better without them than with them.
To hear the Q&A kindly go on the link below:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1154022311604403&id=100009899359238
Recently in Delhi the public parks in residential.colony which were once the responsibilty of the MCD (Municipal corporation of Delhi) have now been entrusted with the RWAs and it seems they are getting money from the Delhi Govt for its upkeep. This is a dangerous move and it should not be encouraged. Many RWAs have already started putting gates to obstruct dogs from entering the parks and putting all kind of boards which are anti dogs. Are the people in the RWA qualified enough to maje such decisions? Should they be given such piowers? They have already created havoc on the dogs and the caregivers. God knows what more they might do in future????
Given below is the link of an old post which talks about how the Delhi Govt handed over 7 public parks to the RWA which were once run by the MCD. The RWA not only thanks the govt for handing over the parks to them but also for the money which the govt has given them for its upkeep. They also urge the people not to bring dogs in the park. The boards are no longer there but what's the guarantee that they might not put such boards again????
This is what happens when public property is entrusted with RWAs These peope know nothing about animal laws or may be any law and yet they behave as if they are the rulers of the colony and the residents are their subjects.
This needs to stop........
Prime Minister's office
@PMOIndia
https://twitter.com/PMOIndia?s=20
Minister of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairying
@GirirajOffice
https://twitter.com/GirirajOffice?s=20