What happened to animals in circuses that have closed down: Delhi HC asks Animal Welfare Board
New Delhi, Aug 14: The Delhi High Court has asked the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to file an affidavit on the status of animals of circuses that have closed down.
A bench of justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh, which was hearing a petition by PETA (the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) India, gave three weeks to the AWBI to file the affidavit.
PETA Counsel Aman Hingorani said that an affidavit filed already by the AWBI did not specifically disclose the status of such animals.
"Mr. Rajesh Kumar Gogna, Advocate who appears for respondent No. 3 (AWBI) should ensure that a further affidavit is filed, disclosing the status of the said animals within the next three weeks," the court said in its order dated August 10.
Last year, the court was informed by the Federation of Indian Animals Protection Organisation (FIAPO) that according to a report filed by AWBI, around 740 circus animals were registered with it, but in a survey only 28 were found.
The court had then directed the AWBI and the Central Zoo Authority to find out what happened to the missing animals and file an affidavit on the status of all circus animals registered with them.
It had termed "serious" and "shocking" that there was a huge gap in the number of animals found by the AWBI, as against those registered with it, when it inspected circuses across the country.
The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals and the FIAPO had moved the high court last year for the protection of animals in circuses stranded across the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
PETA India claimed in its plea that due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the resultant lockdown, circuses are finding it difficult to feed the animals which left many of them vulnerable to starvation.
It sought a direction to the Centre to immediately notify the Performing Animals (Registration) Amendment Rules of 2018 which expressly prohibits the training and exhibition of performing animals in circuses and "mobile entertainment facilities".
The matter would be heard next on November 11.
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300 students get free sanitary pads at menstrual health awareness programme in Mangaluru
Mangaluru: Around 300 students from government colleges and schools in Kavoor were given free sanitary pads during an awareness programme on menstrual health and hygiene held on Saturday.
The programme was organised by the Women Research Centre and the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) at the Government First Grade College (GFGC), Kavoor. The students hailed from Government First Grade college (GFGC), PU government college and high school, Deccan Herald reported.
Prameela Rao of Women Research Centre reportedly said, such awareness programme on menstrual health and free distribution of pads will be organised once in two months throughout the year. The entire cost of organising the awareness programmes and free distribution of pads had been sponsored by US based couple, Vinay Kumar and Dr Sowmya Rao, and a non-government organisation ‘Code Crimson'."
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Joint Director of the Department of Collegiate Education, Kavitha K R, who inaugurated the programme reportedly said, such initiatives should inspire students to give back to society in the future. As per the report, she highlighted the need for more women role models and encouraged students to break taboos surrounding menstruation.
According to the report, GFGC Principal Dr Geetha M L urged students to use biodegradable sanitary pads. Doctors Ankita Sarkar and Anuja Sarkar from Code Crimson addressed students on menstrual myths, hygiene practices, the importance of regular pad changes and safe disposal methods.
The speakers stressed that menstruation is a natural process and encouraged students to seek correct information without hesitation.
