Animal welfare day on Vasant Panchami every yr: Board

New Delhi: In a bid to acknowledge the efforts of animal lovers, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) will be celebrating “Jeev-Jantu Kalyan Divas” on Vasant Panchami every year across the country starting this year. The board also announced that Prani Mitra Award and Jeev-Daya Award would be given in 11 different categories to recognise and reward animal lovers, activists, and organisations working in the field of animal welfare. “Along with the cash prize, a certificate and trophy would be given to the awardees. The President of India has been humbly requested to give away the awards at Vigyan Bhawan on February 10 (Vasant Panchami) this year. We have requested states and UT governments to not allow animal slaughter for one day,” said SP Gupta, the chairman of AWBI. The AWBI also nominated an inspection committee to check cases of illegal slaughtering, sacrifice, killing, and transportation in violations of laws, rules, and regulations on the eve of festivals.

Mr Gupta said that he is in touch with the head of states and UT governments for the activation of state animal welfare board and district societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals.