Introduction
India, a land of rich cultural heritage, unfortunately, grapples with a harsh reality – intense animal cruelty. Millions of creatures suffer from the neglect of stray animals to brutal practices in factory farms. In the last 3+ decades, India has killed over 35% of animals for illegal trade and over 65% of them for food.
This pervasive issue demands immediate attention. Addressing cruelty alleviates animal suffering and fosters a more compassionate society. It’s crucial to examine existing laws against animal cruelty in India and initiatives, particularly those focused on poultry farms and breeding facilities, where hidden abuse often occurs.
A recent report by the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO) paints a disturbing picture of animal cruelty in India. The report exposes over 20,000 intentional and brutal acts of violence against animals in the past decade. However, the true extent of this suffering may be far worse. FIAPO estimates the actual number could be ten times higher, reaching 50 animal deaths per day.
Understanding Animal Cruelty
Animal cruelty encompasses any act that inflicts unnecessary pain, suffering, or distress on an animal. This includes outright abuse like beatings or poisoning, but also neglect in the form of inadequate food, water, or shelter.
Exploitation involves using animals for profit and food without regard for their well-being, often seen in factory farms or entertainment industries. In India alone, over 1,000 broilers, 4 crore hens trapped in egg farms, and 300 million bovines used to produce milk are bred, caged, and tortured every year.
Another FIAPO report exposes the shocking scale of animal cruelty in India, where over 4 lakh animals from 2011 to 2021 were victims of animal cruelty. The same report suggested that 720+ stray animals, 740+ working animals, and 580+ companion animals were abused in 2021. Even farm animals and wildlife aren’t spared. The report details 1,000 assaults against animals, including horrific acts like sexual abuse and mutilation.
Some additional information and examples of animal cruelty in India are as follows –
- Donkeys, horses, and camels used for labour are often overworked, underfed, and denied proper rest, leading to exhaustion and injuries.
- Illegal poaching and habitat destruction continue to threaten countless wild animals in India.
- Around 1.6 land-based animals are slaughtered per person/year.
- India is one of the largest producers of milk, eggs, and goat meat, resulting in high culinary cruelty against farm animals.
Animal Welfare Laws in India
A legal framework is in place to protect animals from cruelty in India. The foundation of this system is the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (PCA Act). This Act defines various forms of cruelty, including neglect, physical abuse, and overloading or abandoning animals. It empowers authorities to investigate complaints and prosecute offenders.
The PCA Act establishes a committee, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), tasked with overseeing the implementation of the Act and advising the government on animal welfare issues. The AWBI issues guidelines for animal treatment, such as proper housing and transportation for animals used in work or transport. Two other laws against animal cruelty in India are –
- The Animal Transport (Cruelty Prevention) Rules, 2017: This legislation explicitly addresses the welfare of animals during transportation. It sets guidelines for vehicle design, travel times, rest periods, and proper handling to prevent suffering during trade, slaughter, or exhibition transport.
- Regulation of Livestock Markets: The RLM sets minimum space requirements for animal housing within livestock markets. This ensures animals aren’t crammed together in cramped, unsanitary conditions. This could involve restricting cruel methods to move or restrain animals, promoting a more humane approach.
India’s animal welfare laws exist (PCA Act, Market Regs), but weak enforcement continues suffering for these voiceless creatures. Inspections of factory farms, for instance, are difficult due to restricted access. Even when violations are documented, legal proceedings are slow, and penalties are inadequate to deter future offences.
Specific Provisions Against Animal Cruelty
Apart from the PCA Act of 1960, specific provisions to protect animals against cruelty in India exist –
- Disease Control Act (2009) mandates disease prevention measures in farms, reducing animal suffering caused by illness and neglect.
- IPC 238 and 429: The Indian Penal Code (IPC) takes a stand against animal cruelty through Sections 428 and 429. These sections come into play when someone intentionally harms an animal in the form of killing, poisoning, causing permanent injuries (maiming), or rendering the animal unable to function normally.
- Prevention of Slaughter of Animals (PSARA) Acts (State Specific): Many Indian states have enacted their own Prevention of Slaughter of Animals Acts (PSARA). These acts aim to regulate the slaughter of specific animals, primarily cows, and other bovines, for religious or cultural reasons.
Challenges and Enforcement
While India’s animal welfare framework is established, it faces significant hurdles in ensuring its effective implementation. Enforcement agencies often lack sufficient personnel to conduct regular inspections across the vast number of farms and animal markets in India. This allows potential violations to go unnoticed, especially in remote locations.
Inadequate funding is another reason enforcement agencies cannot invest in proper equipment, inspector training, and transportation for conducting widespread inspections. Additionally, the current penalties for cruelty offences might be considered too low to deter large-scale farms prioritising profit over animal welfare. This discourages reporting of violations and incentivises non-compliance.
The consequences of inadequate enforcement are dire for animals in poultry farms and breeding places. They may continue to suffer from:
- Overcrowding: Without proper enforcement of minimum space requirements, birds are crammed into cages, leading to stress, injuries, and disease outbreaks.
- Poor Environmental Conditions: Inadequate ventilation, lighting, or temperature control causes discomfort, respiratory issues, and even heatstroke.
- Rough Handling: Animals are subjected to harsh handling practices during transport or while being managed within factory farms, which can cause injuries, fear, and unnatural behaviours.
Initiatives and Campaigns
Several initiatives by animal-friendly NGOs and NPOs such as PETA India, People for Animals (PFA), and ourselves (Mercy for Animals) have occurred in the last few years.
- Schemes like the National Livestock Mission aim to improve farm infrastructure and promote better breeding practices, which can indirectly benefit animal welfare.
- Animal welfare organizations conduct undercover investigations regularly to expose cruelty and advocate for stricter legislation and enforcement.
- Initiatives by NGOs and local governments provide free or subsidised veterinary care for stray animals, reducing their suffering and promoting responsible pet ownership.
- Efforts by animal welfare groups such as People for Animals have been using educational campaigns and social media to raise public awareness about animal cruelty and encourage compassion towards all creatures.
- FIAPO’s Don’t Get Milked campaign tackles the issue of animal cruelty within the dairy industry in India. This campaign specifically focuses on the plight of dairy cows by influencing consumer behaviour and potentially pushing the dairy industry towards more humane practices.
A few success stories have contributed to this fight. The legal battle by activists and organisations such as PFA to ban the cruel Jallikattu bullfighting practice in Tamil Nadu ultimately resulted in a Supreme Court ban, protecting countless bulls from suffering.
Another campaign launched by PETA India in 2015, the Save Shakti campaign, focused on rescuing female elephants used for begging and religious purposes. Many of these elephants faced harsh training methods and inadequate living conditions.
Through legal action, public awareness campaigns, and collaboration with temple authorities, PETA India has successfully rescued over 25 elephants and provided them with sanctuary care.
Another ongoing campaign, ‘Battery Café-Free India’ by a coalition of multiple NGOs, aims to phase out the cruel practice of battery cages for egg-laying hens. Several major egg producers in India have committed to transitioning away from battery cages, demonstrating the power of consumer pressure and advocacy.
Our Commitment to Ending Cruelty
Mercy For Animals (MFA) fights to end animal cruelty in factory farms, including poultry and breeding facilities. We expose animal cruelty through undercover investigations and advocate for stronger laws against animal cruelty in India.
MFA also pushes companies to adopt cage-free and more humane animal treatment, especially on factory farms. We aim to raise consumer awareness regarding plant-based dietary alternatives, pressuring both the industry and the consumers to prioritise animal well-being. We collaborate with local communities to promote compassion and empathy towards all animals.
Conclusion: Don’t be Silent – Advocate for a More Compassionate India
India has laws against animal cruelty, but a gap exists between legislation and enforcement. Limited resources, weak penalties, and public awareness gaps leave many animals vulnerable. Despite challenges, initiatives by NGOs, activists, and some government programs offer hope.
It is time for you to support innocent lives and be part of the solution. Support animal welfare organisations, choose cruelty-free products, and raise awareness. Together, we can create a more compassionate future for all animals in India.