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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
The '''Animal Welfare Board of India''' ('''AWBI'''), headquartered at [[Ballabhgarh]] in [[Haryana]] state, is a statutory advisory body advising the [[Government of India]]'s Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/animal-cruelty-issues-now-under-farm-ministry/articleshow/68841735.cms|title=Animal cruelty issues now under farm ministry|date=12 April 2019|first=Vishwa|last=Mohan|newspaper=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-05-28}}</ref><ref name=ref1>[http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/mar/06/animal-welfare-board-of-india-headquarters-shifted-from-chennai-to-haryana-1782557.html Animal Welfare Board of India headquarters shifted from Chennai to Haryana], March 2018</ref> The AWBI headquarters were previously situated in [[Chennai]].<ref name=ref1/>

==History==
The Animal Welfare Board of India was established in 1962 under Section 4 of [[The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,1960]].<ref name="Intro"/> Well-known humanitarian [[Rukmini Devi Arundale]] was instrumental in setting up the board<ref name="Intro"/> and was its first chair.<ref name="early days"/> The Board consists of 28 Members, who serve for a period of 3 years. Its headquarters were in Chennai,<ref name="Intro"/> and moved to Ballabhgarh in [[Faridabad district]] of Haryana in early 2018.<ref name=ref1/>

The board was initially within the jurisdiction of the Government of India's Ministry of Food and Agriculture. In 1990, the subject of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was transferred to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate change, where it now resides.<ref name="early days"/>

===Lab animals===
Concerned about the abuse of animals in research, in the board's early history, it recommended that the government create the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA). The committee was created, and the board's representative Dr. S. Chinny Krishna deposed twice before the Committee about "the dismal state of laboratories in India."<ref name="early days"/>

A number of years passed before the subject was "taken up effectively by the Government."<ref name="early days"/> In 2001, the government passed rules covering the breeding and experimentation on animals.<ref name="early days"/>

===Animals in entertainment===
Another early concern of the board was the cruelty involved when animals were used in entertainment.<ref name="early days"/> In 1964, the board published the booklet, "Circuses - Amusement for the Uncivilised".<ref name="early days"/> In 2001, the government passed the Performing Animals Rules, which were amended in 2005.<ref name="early days"/> In 2012, the Board reported that the Rules were being implemented in an effective way.<ref name="early days"/>

==Functions==
Some of the functions of the board include:

===Recognition of Animal Welfare Organisations===
The board oversees Animal Welfare Organisations (AWOs) by granting recognition to them if they meet its guidelines.<ref name="recognition"/> The organisation must submit the necessary paperwork; agree to nominate a representative of the Animal Welfare Board of India on its executive committee; and agree to regular inspections.<ref name="recognition"/> After meeting the requirements and going through an inspection, the organisation is considered for the grant of recognition. The AWBI also appoints key people to the positions of (Hon) Animal Welfare Officers, who serve as the key point of contact between the people, the government and law enforcement agencies.<ref name="recognition"/>

===Financial assistance===
The board provides financial assistance to recognised Animal Welfare Organisations (AWOs), who submit applications to the Board.<ref name="Financial"/> Categories of grants include Regular Grant, Cattle Rescue Grant, Provision of Shelter House for looking after the Animals, Animal Birth Control (ABC) Programme, Provision of Ambulance for the animals in distress and Natural Calamity grant.<ref name="Financial"/>

===Animal welfare Laws and Rules===
The board suggests changes to laws and rules about animal welfare issues. In 2011, a new draft Animal Welfare Act was published for comment.<ref>[http://awbi.org/?q=node/113 "Draft Animal Welfare Act 2011"], Animal Welfare Board of India, accessed on 27 August 2014.</ref> Guidance is also offered to organisations and officials such as police to help them interpret and apply the laws.<ref>[http://awbi.org/?q=node/177 " Protection Laws for guidance of Police, HAWOs, NGOs & AWOs"], Animal Welfare Board of India, accessed 27 August 2014.</ref>

===Raising awareness===
The board issues publications to raise awareness of various animal welfare issues.<ref>[http://awbi.org/?q=node/48 "Publications"], Animal Welfare Board of India, accessed 27 August 2014.</ref> The Board's Education Team gives talks on animal welfare subjects, and trains members of the community to be Board Certified Animal Welfare Educators.<ref name="humane education"/>

==Activism==

===Legal rights of animals===

Animal Welfare Board of India filed a case in the court against "Nagaraja" in 2014 to ask for the rights of animals, Naresh Kadyan, chairman of PFA Haryana was also petitioner with AWBI.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Radhakrishnan|first=K.S.|date=7 May 2014|title=Animal Welfare Board Of India vs A. Nagaraja & Ors on 7 May, 2014|url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/39696860/|url-status=live|access-date=11 December 2021|website=Indian Kanoon}}</ref> In that case, the court mandated that the animals are also entitled to the [[Fundamental rights in India#Right to freedom|fundamental right to freedom]]<ref>{{cite book|title=Democratic Politics Class 9|publisher=NCERT}}</ref> enshrined in the Article 21 of [[Constitution of India]] i.e. right to life, personal liberty and the right to [[die with dignity]] ([[Euthanasia#Passive and active euthanasia|passive euthanasia]]).<ref name=IndiaLaw>[https://qz.com/india/1636326/who-apart-from-human-beings-are-legal-persons-in-india/ Birds to holy rivers: A list of everything India considers “legal persons”], [[Quartz (publication)]], September 2019.</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Animal welfare and rights in India]]
* [[Conservation in India]]
* [[Environmental policy of India]]
* [[National Human Rights Commission of India]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2 |refs=
<ref name="Intro">
[http://awbi.org/?q=node/1 "Introduction"], Animal Welfare Board of India, accessed 27 August 2014.</ref>

<ref name="recognition">
[http://awbi.org/?q=node/15 "Recognition"], Animal Welfare Board of India, accessed 27 August 2014.</ref>

<ref name="Financial">
[http://awbi.org/?q=node/16 "Financial Assistance"], Animal Welfare Board of India, accessed 27 August 2014.</ref>

<ref name="early days">
[http://awbi.org/awbi-pdf/ac.pdf "Remembering The Board's Early Days"], Dr. S. Chinny Krishna, ''Animal Citizen'', Animal Welfare Board of India, July-Sept. 2012, p. 6.</ref>

<ref name="humane education">
[http://awbi.org/awbi-pdf/ac.pdf "AWBI Launches Humane Education Project"], ''Animal Citizen'', Animal Welfare Board of India, July-Sept. 2012, p. 2.</ref>
}}

==External links==
*[http://awbi.in Official website]

{{Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (India)}}
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[[Category:Animal welfare organisations based in India]]
[[Category:Executive branch of the government of India]]
[[Category:1962 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1962]]
[[Category:Government agencies of India]]
[[Category:Animal rights]]

Animal Welfare Board of India - Revision history

UpdateBot at 21:04, 25 December 2021