Admin seeks volunteers for animal welfare

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 18

In an attempt to curb cruelty against animals, the administration of Srinagar district has sought volunteers who are interested or involved in animal welfare activities.

The district administration invited applications from residents of Srinagar for “voluntary membership” to the District Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA). The notification for Srinagar was made public earlier this week.

It will be the first-of-its-kind society in Kashmir that is set up to prevent incidents of cruelty against animals and also works towards their welfare.

In a public notification, the administration said the membership is sought in reference to a 2017 Public Interest Litigation which had led to constitution of societies for the prevention of cruelty against animals. The PIL was titled Save Animal Value Environment versus State of J&K.

The Kashmir valley witnesses regular incidents of man-animal conflict which mainly involves wild animals like bears and leopards venturing into human habitats or humans venturing into forest or mountainous habitats of wild animals.

In recent years, videos had emerged that showed wild animals being beaten to death by crowds in rural areas of Kashmir. In many cases, the wild animals, which strayed into residential neighbourhoods, were rescued by the staff of the wildlife department.

The administration asked interested individuals to write an application addressed to the DSPCA chairman. The Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar holds the additional responsibility of the DSPCA chairman.

It said applicants “must be interested or involved in the animal welfare activities, including prevention of cruelty” against animals.