This story is from May 18, 2016

Activists notice decline in animal cruelty cases

It seems that the city is turning into a heaven for animals.Activists have claimed that they have noticed a decrease in the number of cases of animal cruelty by about 30% in Nashik over the past few years.
Activists notice decline in animal cruelty cases
Nashik: It seems that the city is turning into a heaven for animals. Activists have claimed that they have noticed a decrease in the number of cases of animal cruelty by about 30% in Nashik over the past few years.
Activists believe that awareness among the younger generation is making a change in the city but they are yet to see a change in the situation in rural areas.

"Cases of cruelty to animals have gone down a lot in the past four years. Back then I used to attend to at least one case of animal cruelty in a month. Now, it is one case every 2-2.5 months," observed Gaurav Kshatriya who has an animal shelter Aawhas approved by the Animal Welfare Board of India. "In rural areas, however, horse and bullock races still continue. We have to continuously call up ministers in Delhi or Maneka Gandhi to try and ensure that this practice is stopped," Kshatriya added.
He added that it is hard to get help in rural areas when it comes to animal cruelty, hence, the intervention of ministers was needed.
"Once we call them up, they usually respond immediately and get it stopped but such events that promote cruelty to animals should not be organised in the first place," he said.
Sharanya Shetty, who has an animal shelter, Sharan for Animals, also approved by AWB, said that the cases of cruelty had definitely reduced in the city in the past few years by around 30%. She said that the reason was awareness among youngsters.
"Children have become very aware. Only in villages, the older generation is unaware. Whenever we put up animal-related posts or cases related to cruelty on social networking sites we receive lot of response from youngsters who also offer to rescue the animal or volunteer in other ways. Elders are not so sensitive to this subject and at some point it is no use in even trying to get them to understand," said Shetty.
She added that the government does not support this cause as much as they should and that if they did, animal cruelty would reduce further. "For cruelty to cattle or violating the ban, the punishment is imprisonment and fine but with a fine of Rs 50 , no one will take cruelty seriously. Abroad the laws are strict and people take it very seriously," said Sharanjya.
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