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AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL:
Workshop
on the Animals Laws of India
The
newly established Goa Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals, Goa's youngest animal welfare organisation
was introduced to the State by Goa's oldest and leading
animal welfare group, People For Animals, at a special
workshop conducted jointly by them on the Animal Laws
of India held on February 26,
2001 at Angels Resort in Alto Porvorim.
Addressing
the 60 participants, (which comprised office bearers
of the North Goa Collectorate, the animal husbandry
and forest departments, the police, and other animal
groups in the state), the Chief Guest, former IGP Maharashtra
and Punjab, Padma Bhushan Julio Ribeiro, urged
those present to take the laws pertaining to animal
protection seriously, because they not only encourage
us to feel compassionate to those who cannot express
their own rights to live, eat and take shelter, but
also to protect the natural wealth of our country from
being illegally exported in various ways.
 Among
those who addressed the gathering were Sanjiv Khirwar,
the then Collector of North Goa; Capt HK Malviya,
the Director of the Animal Husbandry Dept of Goa; Norma
Alvares, noted environment lawyer
and President, PFA Goa; Lt Col A R Nageshkar,
Secretary Bombay SPCA and Managing Trustee, GSPCA, all
of whom are members of the Advisory Board of the GSPCA.
 Representing
Mrs Maneka Gandhi, who is also on the GSPCA and
PFA Boards, was Mr S K Verma, Deputy Secretary,
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Also present
were noted animal rights activists including John
Hicks of International Animal Rescue, and Nirmal
Kulkarni of Green Cross.
 "Knowing
that there are laws is one thing, knowing how to use
them is another, this workshop really opened our eyes",
said Angela Kazi, Secretary, PFA Goa. "We
now have the confidence to act," added Blanche
Moore of the Goa Animal Welfare Trust.
The
actual explanation of the two main laws, (the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 0f 1960, and
the WildLife Protection Act of 1978),
was done by Aparna Rajagopal,
Delhi based animal rights lawyer, and by the Chairman
of the GSPCA, Lynn de Souza, a senior advertising
professional from Mumbai, who is also a certified veterinary
nurse trained in Australia, a master trainer for the
Animal Welfare Board of India, and closely associated
with the Bombay SPCA.
Click
here to download the presentation made by Aparna Rajapgolan
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