Delhi to build 'PG hostels' for cows; tag animals, pets
Alok K N Mishra | TNN | Updated: Jan 10, 2019, 02:16 IST
Representative image.NEW DELHI: In a big push for animal welfare, the Delhi government said on Wednesday it would open "PG hostels" for cows whose owners do not have space to keep them, build a gaushala-cum-old age home where the elderly would live in the company of cows and tag all pets and cattle in the city with microchips to monitor their health and identify owners, besides establishing 272 animal hospitals, one in each ward.
Unveiling its animal health and welfare policy 2018, development minister Gopal Rai said the animal husbandry department was being renamed animal health and welfare department to give it a welfare orientation. The government also plans to open 11 animal mortuaries with postmortem facilities, incinerators for disposal of animal carcasses and build more gaushalas.
It has identified a site in Ghummanhera village, southwest Delhi, for a "modern, state-of-the-art" gaushala-cum-old age home for the elderly who want to serve cows, a concept that has met with some success in Gujarat. tnn
With the plan to tag pets and cattle, the government said it will be able to monitor the vaccination records and the location of animals, which will also lead to checking the number of abandoned animals on the streets.
"Animals will be tagged so that the owners who abandon these animals can be identified and further steps in this direction can be taken," Gopal Rai said.
He, however, said that details about whether the government will undertake the tagging exercise or leave it to the owners, with penalties for non-compliance, will be worked out later.
The policy also calls for birth control programme for monkeys and stray dogs, in view of the monkey menace reported from many parts of the city. It said new animal birth control centres will be set up. The policy also notes that the sterilization of stray dogs being carried out through NGOs has not been satisfactory.
"No policy for animal welfare was ever made. We have made this policy with an eye on the welfare of animals which will guide the government's animal welfare programme. The policy will be updated from time to time according to the feedback we receive," Rai said after a meeting with department officials, animal welfare groups and veterinary experts.
According to the department, the PG accommodations for cows will allow people who want to keep cows but do not have space for creating cowsheds. "It will also address the issue of owners deserting cows when they do not give milk. The owners will have to pay for the PG services where treatment and health facilities will also be given to the cows," said an official.
The government is planning to open around 33 gaushalas across the city to give shelter to deserted cows and restructure the existing five gaushalas of Delhi with state-of-the art infrastructure and modern design. "In Ghummanhera village, a gaushala and old-age home will be built in the same complex to allow the willing elderlies to serve cows," said the minister.
"The government will make Delhi rabies-free for which animal checkposts on inter-state borders, especially at the entry point routes, will be established," Rai added.
There are a total of 76 animal hospitals and clinics in Delhi but most of them are short of equipment and technologically crippled. The policy recommends establishing 272 hospitals one in each ward of the city and a 24X7 hospital in the city. "This hospital has already been constructed. It is likely to be opened on January 16," Rai said.
A helpline for distressed animal and birds will be launched and the government will also take care of the needs of the birds at district-level aviaries.
Unveiling its animal health and welfare policy 2018, development minister Gopal Rai said the animal husbandry department was being renamed animal health and welfare department to give it a welfare orientation. The government also plans to open 11 animal mortuaries with postmortem facilities, incinerators for disposal of animal carcasses and build more gaushalas.
It has identified a site in Ghummanhera village, southwest Delhi, for a "modern, state-of-the-art" gaushala-cum-old age home for the elderly who want to serve cows, a concept that has met with some success in Gujarat. tnn
With the plan to tag pets and cattle, the government said it will be able to monitor the vaccination records and the location of animals, which will also lead to checking the number of abandoned animals on the streets.
"Animals will be tagged so that the owners who abandon these animals can be identified and further steps in this direction can be taken," Gopal Rai said.
He, however, said that details about whether the government will undertake the tagging exercise or leave it to the owners, with penalties for non-compliance, will be worked out later.
The policy also calls for birth control programme for monkeys and stray dogs, in view of the monkey menace reported from many parts of the city. It said new animal birth control centres will be set up. The policy also notes that the sterilization of stray dogs being carried out through NGOs has not been satisfactory.
"No policy for animal welfare was ever made. We have made this policy with an eye on the welfare of animals which will guide the government's animal welfare programme. The policy will be updated from time to time according to the feedback we receive," Rai said after a meeting with department officials, animal welfare groups and veterinary experts.
According to the department, the PG accommodations for cows will allow people who want to keep cows but do not have space for creating cowsheds. "It will also address the issue of owners deserting cows when they do not give milk. The owners will have to pay for the PG services where treatment and health facilities will also be given to the cows," said an official.
The government is planning to open around 33 gaushalas across the city to give shelter to deserted cows and restructure the existing five gaushalas of Delhi with state-of-the art infrastructure and modern design. "In Ghummanhera village, a gaushala and old-age home will be built in the same complex to allow the willing elderlies to serve cows," said the minister.
"The government will make Delhi rabies-free for which animal checkposts on inter-state borders, especially at the entry point routes, will be established," Rai added.
There are a total of 76 animal hospitals and clinics in Delhi but most of them are short of equipment and technologically crippled. The policy recommends establishing 272 hospitals one in each ward of the city and a 24X7 hospital in the city. "This hospital has already been constructed. It is likely to be opened on January 16," Rai said.
A helpline for distressed animal and birds will be launched and the government will also take care of the needs of the birds at district-level aviaries.
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