Now, animals under disaster control

The two-day workshop, which saw representation from across the country, focussed on including animals in disaster preparations. While launching the plan, Radha Mohan Singh, Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, said, “Animals are an intrinsic part of our lives. It’s ironic that animals were missing in the picture till now. In our economy, especially in rural areas, animals are extremely important. Hence, putting focus on animal rescue during disasters becomes crucial from economic viewpoint.” 

Gajender Sharma, Country Director of World Animal Protection India, one of the organisers, said that communities will be closely involved in animal protection, especially during disasters. “The community is the first to respond during disasters. So we discussed measures to involve the community, create awareness and conduct drills. We are also involved in capacity building of stakeholders dealing with disaster management. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel are already being trained on rescuing animals in disaster struck zones. Moreover, we have also ensured that animals are included while developing state level disaster management plans. During the event, Minister Radha Mohan Singh promised us that once these suggestions are submitted, it will be incorporated,” he said. 

Dr Shiranee Pereira, Co-Founder, People for Animals (PFA), said, “During the Tamil Nadu floods, there was hardly any attention paid towards rescue of animals. This move to include animals is wonderful. However, I think that the state should also step forward towards animal welfare. During the floods, it was the NGOs who formed a network and rescued animals. A budget should also be allocated as disaster relief for animals. Animal ambulances for first-aid should be mandatory.” 

Padmavathy Narasimhamoorthy of Animal Welfare and Protection Trust (AWPT) said, “During a disaster, stray animals are ignored. They should also be included.” 

Dr Ashish Sutar, Senior Manager, PETA India, said, “The emergency and timely support in the form of rescue and relief is critical, for which the national and state disaster response teams need appropriate resources in the form of equipment, trained manpower and relief material. Just like humans, inclusion of animals in the disaster management plans is essential to safeguard the animal needs.” National consultant for disaster risk reduction, Hari Balaji, said this move augurs well, especially for rural economy. “While visiting different disaster affected pockets during the floods, it was evident that livelihood of people in rural areas was affected due to lack of disaster management plan for livestock. This plan will have sustainable impact on rural economy,” he concluded.