The mark of every decent and modern society is a law for ethical and humane treatment of its animals. One can even go as far to say that ‘show me your animal protection laws and I’ll tell you what society you keep’. Countries which do not treat their animals fairly - China, West Asia (Middle East) and some East European countries also are culpable of brutality and suppression of their own citizens.
:-)
OTOH, most liberal, democratic and open societies have enacted and enforce strict laws for welfare of animals. Switzerland is most notorious for its animal welfare laws, which I believe even specifies the amount of exercise one’s pet dog has to receive.
Thus it was admirable when animal welfare and protection law in India was sought to be rewritten to be made more in tune with the modern times. To my horror, it appears that the draft law has simply given in to all the outrageous demands of the Animal Rights group, without any thought or application of mind to the welfare of the humans, as lamented in my post - Ratmen of Rodencia ...
Barely two weeks have passed and the first news is that one state government, in the state of Jammu & Kashmir has ordered its district administration, including the Police to shoot the stray rabid and mad dogs, which have multiplied uncontrolled in the troubled state. This was after the fact that at least 2 people died due to rabies after the dogs attacked and bit them. There is still hope for us humans.
The second news is that a Parliamentary Panel has slammed the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for ordering the closure of 3 premier vaccine producing facilities, stating that they violated Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), recommended by the WHO. What makes the matters worse is that all the 3 units were public sector or government owned units. So the inability of those units to adhere to GMP (if they ever did fail) reflects on the government. And if ever such facilities were found to be below par, it remains the duty and responsibility of the government to ensure that they once again meet the requirements.
The decision to order closure of these units defy logic and is tantamount to the government admitting that it cannot by itself, adhere to a code or practice. But the government will hold other (private sector) units to conform to the same code.
Be what it may be, whether the decision was taken in poor judgement or whether it was taken due to reasons not immediately discernable right now, it is a glaring example of putting the cart before the horse. (no pun intended).
To get back to the proposed legislation and in light of these successive reports on the questionability of putting the animal rights before citizen rights, the correct course of action would be to actually carry out a ‘from-the-bottom’ rethink on the proposed act.
It should be made essentially clear that
Admittedly our PM, contrary to his ability, knowledge and resource, has been displaying all the characteristics of a bumbling, idiotic despot, but IMHO, now is certainly not the time for him to go.
:-)
OTOH, most liberal, democratic and open societies have enacted and enforce strict laws for welfare of animals. Switzerland is most notorious for its animal welfare laws, which I believe even specifies the amount of exercise one’s pet dog has to receive.
Thus it was admirable when animal welfare and protection law in India was sought to be rewritten to be made more in tune with the modern times. To my horror, it appears that the draft law has simply given in to all the outrageous demands of the Animal Rights group, without any thought or application of mind to the welfare of the humans, as lamented in my post - Ratmen of Rodencia ...
Barely two weeks have passed and the first news is that one state government, in the state of Jammu & Kashmir has ordered its district administration, including the Police to shoot the stray rabid and mad dogs, which have multiplied uncontrolled in the troubled state. This was after the fact that at least 2 people died due to rabies after the dogs attacked and bit them. There is still hope for us humans.
The second news is that a Parliamentary Panel has slammed the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for ordering the closure of 3 premier vaccine producing facilities, stating that they violated Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), recommended by the WHO. What makes the matters worse is that all the 3 units were public sector or government owned units. So the inability of those units to adhere to GMP (if they ever did fail) reflects on the government. And if ever such facilities were found to be below par, it remains the duty and responsibility of the government to ensure that they once again meet the requirements.
The decision to order closure of these units defy logic and is tantamount to the government admitting that it cannot by itself, adhere to a code or practice. But the government will hold other (private sector) units to conform to the same code.
Be what it may be, whether the decision was taken in poor judgement or whether it was taken due to reasons not immediately discernable right now, it is a glaring example of putting the cart before the horse. (no pun intended).
To get back to the proposed legislation and in light of these successive reports on the questionability of putting the animal rights before citizen rights, the correct course of action would be to actually carry out a ‘from-the-bottom’ rethink on the proposed act.
It should be made essentially clear that
- the nature of the Act is to ensure Human safety , health and welfare while upholding the welfare of the Animals.
- some species should be termed as pests and vermin and eradication efforts by the general public should not be viewed as offending the act. Examples of such species are rats, bandicoots, Gypsy Moth caterpillars, millipedes, cockroaches, some poisonous insects and animals and beg-bugs and mosquitoes. (If you think I am exaggerating, just read the act- link in here)
- the powers to declare animals as pests or vermin (for a limited period) should be vested with the local administration - at the level of districts - after all such district level officers have powers to declare congregation of humans as illegal 8-D
Admittedly our PM, contrary to his ability, knowledge and resource, has been displaying all the characteristics of a bumbling, idiotic despot, but IMHO, now is certainly not the time for him to go.
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