Post-graduate students will have to choose between 'bio-diversity’ and ‘live zoology' in their curriculum, limiting the number of dissections.
Dissection of animals by students of zoology and life sciences at the undergraduate level will be stopped, a University Grants Commission (UGC) committee has decided.
"The move will save the lives of thousands of animals," BK Sharma, a member of the UGC core expert committee to consider discontinuation of dissection of animals in zoology and life science courses in Indian universities and colleges, said.
The committee, at its meeting earlier this week, decided that dissection of animals by students at the undergraduate level will be stopped completely while it will be limited to one or two species at the post-graduate level.
The committee was constituted by the Union human resources development ministry and the UGC in January 2010.
According to a rough estimate, the total number of undergraduate students in India exceeds 1.5 million. "If the students use on an average two animals, the move will save almost 18 million animals per academic session," Sharma said.
Post-graduate students will have to choose between 'bio-diversity’ and ‘live zoology' in their curriculum, limiting the number of dissections.
“These recommendations will save a huge amount of money currently being spent on the purchase of animals every year by universities and colleges for dissection," Sharma said.
"It will also help in destroying the nexus between institutions of higher education and the catchers, killers, and suppliers of dead and live animals.”
The committee has recommended the use of modern techniques such as models, multimedia computer-based simulators, mannequins and virtual labs for educating students on animal anatomy.
“These modern tools are humane and have proved much better than hands-on use of animals and replace the use of animals for dissection exercises,” Sharma said.
The committee is now preparing the blueprint for implementing the recommendation in colleges and universities across the country.
“A nationwide plan to get the ban implemented state-wise in India is being prepared," Sharma said. "Rajasthan is expected to be totally free from dissections in the coming academic session.”
Dissection of animals was introduced in the 1920s in life science education. The practice has been criticised all over the world, with critics questioning its necessity, relevance and value for teaching.
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