Animal Welfare Board officials to closely monitor jallikattu events

“We are neither against the culture of Tamils or any religion seeking a ban on jallikattu. But we want the jallikattu guidelines to be implemented in letter and spirit. AWBI will depute its officers to monitor jallikattu and the board will update the Supreme Court,” SP Gupta, chairman, AWBI told reporters here on Saturday.

Not only jallikattu, but AWBI will also have an eye on marriages and functions where animals are used for performances. Under Performing Animals Act, industrialist Mukesh Ambani got the permission to use elephants and horses for his daughter’s wedding. This precedence will be followed, he said.

Admitting that stray dogs’ population across the country has been a concern for the board, Gupta blamed the state governments and district administration for the poor execution of animal birth control (ABC) programmes adopted for stray dogs. When asked what concrete steps the board has taken against the district administration that fails to implement ABC, Gupta said that AWBI is an advisory board directing the states to act against local bodies and district administrations.

To prevent the cruelty against animals, AWBI has expanded its network by roping in hundreds of animal welfare officers. Now, four animal welfare officers have been deputed to address the issues in Tamil Nadu. AWBI had also opened a grievance redressal cell besides receiving online complaints through the AWBI website.

To queries on growing complaints against SPCA and Blue Cross, Gupta said that animal activism in an issue. We need only animal lovers, not activists who take the law in their hand. Admitting that Tamil Nadu is undergoing animal activism where Blue Cross and SPCA often take illegal custody of the rescued animals.

Except for police and certified people, activists should not take the law into their hands. AWBI will soon sensitise the police and the judicial officers in this regard and the animal welfare organisations should reach out to the district administration and local police for action. Animal custody can be taken only as per the law and not otherwise, he said.

“Madras SPCA is in big trouble for financial irregularities and change of name. We have received complaints against them. The same complaint has been forwarded to the state for further investigations,” Vinod O Jain, state animal welfare officer, told DT Next. It may be noted T Thiyagarajan, former secretary of SPCA had petitioned the secretary of AWBI alleging that Madras SPCA has made illegal appointments and had fudged financial documents.