The IIT Bombay asked two of its students to serve a total 72 hours of community service with animal welfare organisations after they were found guilty of being party to an animal cruelty case
In what might be a first of its kind step taken by an educational institution in Mumbai to drive home the message of empathy towards animals- The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay asked two of its students to serve a total 72 hours of community service with animal welfare organisations, after they were found guilty of being party to an animal cruelty case.
As per sources in IIT-B, the case took place on the campus last year and immediately a disciplinary committee was set up to investigate it. While the committee had to let go the main accused due to lack of evidence, however two students who were found guilty for abetting the crime were sentenced to carry out community service at animal welfare NGO.
“These two were not directly involved but were party to the case and hence we wanted them to understand the trauma of animals, which face cruelty as it was the best way to sensitise them towards animal sufferings and hence this decision was taken and one of the students has already completed the task,” said a source adding that it was obvious that the main accused would not have been left with such a light punishment but unfortunately there was not enough evidences.
Shakuntala Majumdar, President of Thane SPCA where one of the students completed his community service said that she appreciated the stand taken by IIT-B. “Since these two were not the main accused, giving them random punishment would not have served the real purpose and might have increased their hate for animals. The person was given all tasks from cleaning animal enclosures to cutting vegetables and even helping in carrying out medical treatment of injured animals,” she said adding that the person clearly seemed shocked to see and learn the animal suffering and even narrated how he developed a change of heart.
Infact Majumdar is also planning to write to Mumbai University as well as other major education institution to take strictest action possible against any student found to be involved in any kind of animal cruelty cases and those who are found abetting it or supporting it should be asked to serve with animal welfare NGO’s.
An IIT-B spokesperson confirming the incident said, “This is the first time such a decision was taken in our campus. IIT-B is located amidst nature where we have everything from crocodiles in Powai lake to cattles to dogs and even occasionally leopards moving around and we are very particular about the fact that we have to respect nature and hence it was deemed fit for these two students to serve community service to understand the impacts of abuse on animals.” The spokesperson maintained that they had also taken a decision to not name the students keeping in mind the fact that they believed more in reformation.
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