The Bill therefore aims to

● Recognize a duty of care on part of persons in charge of animals to treat animals humanely

● Prevent cruelty to animals and secure the protection and welfare of animals Establish a National Animal Welfare Authority and to provide for Regulations and Codes of Practice Raise community awareness on animal welfare and foster kindness, compassion and responsible behaviour towards animals

● The Bill has also redefined the term ‘animal’ to encompass every living being other than human beings. The current law applies only to captive or domestic animals, excluding important areas such as wildlife without any protection. The Animal Welfare Bill also includes legislation on pet shops, animal experimentation, animal performance and the live transport of animals.

Sections 24, 25 and 26 elaborates on various means of cruelty towards animals with fines reaching up to Rs. 50,000 or Rs. 100,000 with imprisonment up to four years depending on the case. The Bill speaks about killing animals with cruelty as well as killing pregnant animals.

Sections 27-36 includes unlawful conduct such as setting traps to capture animals, unlawful confinement of birds, permitting diseased or disabled animals to public places, abandonment of animals, treatment by unqualified persons, unlawful castration or sterilisation of animals, use of animals for testing cosmetics, causing pain or distress to animals for sale, unlawful sale of animals suffering in pain and making available an animal for hunting. Those found guilty of any of these offences would have to pay a fine not exceeding Rs. 20,000 or a one year jail term or both.

As such, this elaborate document needs to be enacted in Parliament as means of bringing about a just society, not only by showing compassion towards humans but towards animals as well. Hence, animal rights activists urge the incumbent President to make this a top priority in his manifesto without making it just another election promise.