Animal Welfare Board of India starved of funds for 3 years : HC informed

The court’s observation came during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by animal rights activist, Dr. Vijay Kumar. The PIL sought to address the lack of adequate funding for the AWBI, which has been struggling to carry out its mandate of protecting and promoting animal welfare.

Advertisement The board reported that no funds were provided for this programme over the last three years, severely impacting its operations. The last significant allocation for the ABC programme was Rs 4.03 lakh in 2020-21, after which the funding ceased, the affidavit stated. The AWBI, which also provides financial assistance for shelter houses and ambulances through various schemes, noted that the lack of funds had forced it to halt essential support to local animal welfare organisations. A recent inspection revealed that several centres were neither compliant with the newly notified ABC Rules, 2023, nor equipped to handle the required sterilisation procedures.

The city’s animal shelter program has been significantly impacted by the AWBI’s withdrawal of financial support. This withdrawal of financial support has had a significant impact on the city’s animal shelter program. The AWBI’s financial support was crucial for the city’s animal shelter program, as it enabled the city to operate and maintain its shelters.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) is facing legal challenges for its Animal Birth Control (ABC) program. The program, which aims to control the stray animal population, has been criticized for its lack of funding and implementation. The NMC has been ordered by the High Court to include the central government as a plaintiff in the legal case.