Former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi. , Photograph Credit score: AP
Animal rights activist and former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi on Thursday (November 13, 2025) described the Supreme Court docket’s directive on eradicating stray animals and lodging them at shelter properties as “impractical”, and stated compassion ought to information India’s strategy in the direction of animals.
The Supreme Court docket final week took notice of the “alarming rise” in canine chunk incidents in institutional areas like academic centres, hospitals, bus stands and railway stations, and directed the authorities to maneuver such canines to designated shelters.
The apex court docket additionally ordered the authorities, together with the Nationwide Highways Authority of India (NHAI), to make sure the removing of stray animals and cattle from highways and expressways.
“The Supreme Court docket says take away the canine, take away the cat, take away the monkey, put it in a shelter, sterilize it, however nobody can truly do that…it’s impractical,” Ms. Gandhi stated, responding to questions at an occasion in New Delhi.
She additionally questioned the dearth of coordination amongst civic our bodies, including that compassion, not management, ought to information India’s strategy to animals.
The previous parliamentarian urged the authorities and residents to concentrate on neighborhood accountability and humane care.
Ms. Gandhi was talking on the launch of CineKind, a brand new initiative launched by the Movie Federation of India (FFI) in collaboration together with her group, Individuals for Animals (PFA), to honor kindness and humane storytelling in cinema.
The awards goal to encourage filmmakers to painting empathy towards animals and nature as a type of energy moderately than weak point.
“India’s tradition is, to a big extent, outlined by movies, and to get them on board to make compassion look sturdy is essential,” she stated. “When you’re compassionate, you are a robust particular person. It is solely people who find themselves weak who’re merciless.”
Ms. Gandhi, who has championed animal welfare legal guidelines for many years, recalled the time when animals utilized in movies suffered enormously as a result of a scarcity of laws.
“There was a time when cows, horses, and tigers utilized in motion pictures would die throughout filming. Tigers have been sedated, their tooth and claws pulled out,” she stated.
“The Animal Welfare Board of India later labored with filmmakers to ascertain strict norms. Now, it is time for self-regulation and renewed dedication.”
FFI president Firdausul Hasan stated movies have the facility to affect public attitudes and promote human values.
“Movies have unmatched attain. They stir feelings, problem beliefs and spark change. With CineKind, we’re saying that kindness must be as celebrated on display screen as any motion or drama,” he stated.
Revealed – November 13, 2025 03:39 pm IST