India has been witnessing an increasing amount of cruelty towards animals. Only recently there was a video online, with a man beating an injured dog’s head in. Over the past few months, a spate of videos have been making an appearance on social media, videos that would leave a bad taste in the mouth for someone who just likes animals, leave alone those involved in rescue, care and rehoming, who would probably feel a lot of pain just watching this happen.
What makes matters worse is the fines and punishments involved. Right now, the fine for harming an animal is Rs 50. Yes, you read that right. It’s a nominal amount, one that wouldn’t pinch most people at all. There is jail time involved when an animal is killed, which can even go up to five years, but convictions are rare or non-existent. The justice system takes too long. This means that if you injure a dog, you pay a nominal fee and walk away.
So what can be done? Animal lovers and activists across India seem to be working towards a common cause. On September 18, Goa will unite with around 60 locations across India and 30 international hotspots to press for a strong Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Right now over one lakh people, and various celebrities, have registered in defense of animals and against those who abuse them.
The organisations here in Goa will be meeting at the Miramar circle on Sunday, 4pm and will walk towards the Captain of Ports building in a rally to raise awareness and get the attention of the government. What’s interesting is that the organisers, India Unites For Animals (for Goa), are asking people to get their pets along too.
If you believe that this cause needs more support, then you should turn up this Sunday to meet these animal lovers. You should also mail in and let us know what you think.
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India has seen a steep increase in the cases of animal cruelty in recent years and these bring up serious concerns. May it be the case of Shaktimaan, the police horse, who was beaten up mercilessly (for no fault of his) which resulted in amputation of his leg and ultimately death, or case of Bhadra, the dog that was thrown from top of the building, these people, if proven guilty, would be punished with only Rs.50 and nothing more. That's the value of a life. We have somehow forgotten that other beings on this earth also have a life in them and they too feel like the way we humans do. That's the reason why a movement like India Unites For Animals is necessary to ask the government to amend the archaic PCA Act of 1960 and get the Animal Welfare bill passed.
Dr Shruti Kavlekar, homeopathic physician
I feel the animal rally is a great cause. "Gomanta", the region of cows, historically, where cattle are now treated as nuisances on our streets and fall victim to road accidents, where they are packed into trucks, live, in cruel ,cramped conditions to be transported for slaughter , where all animals can be abused, tortured, harmed and killed with no more than a Rs 50 fine as punishment. NGO's, plus groups of like-minded compassionate individuals have been growing in number throughout Goa to rescue and relieve animals wherever they need help. Uniting through social media and now uniting in person, side by side, it's time to stop animal abuse . We will call for a new Animal Welfare Bill.
Christabelle Araujo, animal rescuer
As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” What have we been reduced to? Medical students throwing a dog off a building and recording it for entertainment, kids in Hyderabad throwing puppies into a bonfire for fun. We need to stand up for these animals that cannot speak. It’s time to put an end to the cruelty. Heavy fines and stringent punishments should be meted out. India needs to wake up.
Rhys da Costa, pet store owner
It's been eight years since I have been working with rescue and rehoming. I sincerely wish that I can have an animal shelter someday. Now I try to stay away from social media because my newsfeed is full of stories and videos about animal abuse. My day goes bad. I’m depressed. I can’t fathom how people can be so heartless. What sadistic pleasures do people derive when they carry out these barbaric acts of violence against animals? Are we the real animals or as I call us “humanimals”? Let’s speak up for the voiceless ones.
Charmaine deSouza Fernandes, writer
