AWBI claims that the move came after getting complaints of "harassment" and "extortion" against certain AWOs, who were misusing the identity cards.
Animal activists across Maharashtra fighting various cases of animal cruelty have been left in the lurch after the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) cancelled their Animal Welfare Officer (AWO) identity cards.
The AWBI, which plays a very important role when it comes to fighting for animal rights issues, has faced flak from activists who accused the newly-formed board of towing government lines — be it on the issue of Jallikattu or focusing only on having gowrakshaks on board.
Meanwhile, AWBI claims that the move came after getting complaints of "harassment" and "extortion" against certain AWOs, who were misusing the identity cards.
"This definitely comes as a shock to us. The card helped us in being heard at different levels effectively. It would have been great if the offenders would have been booked and the rest of us given stricter norms of compliance," states Shakuntala Majumdar, President, Thane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty Animals (TSPCA).
Meet Ashar, who is an animal rights activist, said this move will severely impact all those working in individual capacity. "It will indeed have a repercussion on the way animal cruelty cases are dealt with as these identity cards made us representatives of AWBI. Police were also taking us seriously when we went to lodge complaints," he said.
NG Jayasimha, another well-known animal rights activist, said there is no denying that misuse of Id cards take place, but deciding to withdraw all i-cards is not a step in the right direction. "Action needs to be taken against those misusing the cards and there measures can be introduced to ensure such miscreants are caught. Now, all we can do is ask animal right activists to continue their efforts and not give up," he said.
While efforts were made to contact AWBI Chairman SP Gupta, he was unavailable for comment. But, sources in the AWBI said that the decision was taken to stop the misuse by some activists, who, in the name of animal welfare, were extorting money and harassing people. "AWBI is concerned that the i-cards and their name were being maligned. Soon, we will empower State Animal Welfare Boards or district SPCAs to issue the cards," said the source.
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