M HYDERI
Srinagar, Apr 30: In seemingly a major setback to “dog rights activists” in the City, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has asked the state government to disband the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal (SPCA).
 The AWBI has accused the SPCA of misuse of assets provided by the former including a vehicle for animal care.
 Official documents reveal that the AWBI Chairman Major Gen (retd) RM Kharb has shot a letter to the state Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal to strip the local chapter of animal rights organization of its working and reconstitute it afresh.

THE GENESIS
 Officials said the AWBI expressed its dismay over the alleged misconduct of the SPCA during a meeting in Gurgaon.
 Official documents reveal that a delegation of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) officials had a one-on-one with the former Army official on April 21.
 The meeting was attended by the Maj Gen Kharb, SMC  Commissioner, Dr GN Qasba, Joint  Commissioner, SMC, Fayaz Ahmed Bala and Jasjit Purewal, a Board Member of AWBI.
 Officials said the meeting was held to assess the status and requirements for implementing stray canine Animal Birth Control at the SKUAST Veterinary College at Shuhama where the male stray dogs of Srinagar are scheduled to be sterilized.
 But the role of SPCA Kashmir, which mostly reportedly stressed for dog sterilization or violation of their rights, as per the officials, remained in the spotlight.
 “The AWBI has in the past provided infrastructure and assets to both the SPCA’s of J&K. However SPCA’s are required to act as dynamic bodies on animal welfare issues, assist local government and State Animal Welfare Boards and be accountable and under the management of State Animal Welfare Boards.
 “Both the SPCA’s of Jammu and Kashmir are private bodies which have been dysfunctional and misusing the assets provided by AWBI for animal welfare,” reveal the minutes of the meeting, a copy of which lies with Greater Kashmir.
 “The Chairman Gen Kharb therefore suggested that these bodies be taken over by the J & K Government and reconstituted and made effective. Towards this end, he also addressed a letter to the Chief Secretary of J& K detailing the same.

THE MAIL
 Official documents reveal that the AWBI Chairman instantly shot a letter to the state Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal to apprize him about the development and to seek his requisite action.
 “Vide my earlier letter dated 27th September 2011 you were requested to take over and supersede the existing managing committees of SPCA Kashmir and SPCA Jammu as they are not performing their assigned duties and to appoint fresh managing committees for these SPCAs in consultation with the AWBI,” reads the mail, a copy of which lies with Greater Kashmir.
 “As you may be aware that SPCA Kashmir at Srinagar and SPCA Jammu are recognized with AWBI but have not been constituted as per Govt. of India SPCA Rules 2001 and have not been functioning as per mandate of SPCAs. The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has also sent some suggestions in the form of an advisory to the State Government/Local Authority to constitute the Management Committee of the District SPCA,” the letter adds.
 When contacted SMC PRO Masrat Yousuf  confirmed  that  the civic body has  received a copy of the AWBI minutes of the meeting and also the copy of a mail the AWBI Chairman sent to the Chief Secretary.

THE ISSUE
 Pertinently eyebrows were being raised over the working of SPCA as the body seemingly was concerned more towards the dogs alone and showed little or no concern towards the welfare of other animals like cattle, horses and cats.
 Despite repeated attempts, the SPCA top brass couldn’t be contacted for comments. Their colleague Javed Iqbal Shah, who recently admitted to have last year complained that stray dogs were being poisoned in Srinagar, however, has a different story to tell. (To be concluded)

Lastupdate on : Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 1 May 2012 00:00:00 IST