ANIMAL WELFARE In the Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary, animal welfare is defined as "the avoidance of abuse and exploitation

of animals by humans by maintaining appropriate standards of accommodation, feeding and general care, the prevention and treatment of disease and the assurance of freedom from harassment, and unnecessary discomfort and pain." AVMA Definition and Guidelines Animal welfare means how an animal is coping with the conditions in which it lives. An animal is in a good state of welfare if (as indicated by scientific evidence) it is healthy, comfortable, well nourished, safe, able to express innate behaviour, and if it is not suffering from unpleasant states such as pain, fear, and distress. Good animal welfare requires disease prevention and veterinary treatment, appropriate shelter, management, nutrition, humane handling and humane slaughter. Animal welfare refers to the state of the animal; the treatment that an animal receives is covered by other terms such as animal care, animal husbandry, and humane treatment. Protecting an animal's welfare means providing for its physical and mental needs. Ensuring animal welfare is a human responsibility that includes consideration for all aspects of animal well-being, including proper housing, management, nutrition, disease prevention and treatment, responsible care, humane handling, and, when necessary, humane euthanasia. There are numerous perspectives on animal welfare that are influenced by a person's values and experiences. There are also various means of measuring animal welfare, including (but not limited to) health, productivity, behaviour, and physiological responses. AVMA Animal Welfare Principles The AVMA has offered the following eight integrated principles for developing and evaluating animal welfare policies, resolutions, and actions.

The responsible use of animals for human purposes, such as companionship, food, fibre, recreation, work, education, exhibition, and research conducted for the benefit of both humans and animals, is consistent with the Veterinarian's Oath. Decisions regarding animal care, use, and welfare shall be made by balancing scientific knowledge and professional judgment with consideration of ethical and societal values. Animals must be provided water, food, proper handling, health care, and an environment appropriate to their care and use, with thoughtful consideration for their species-typical biology and behaviour. Animals should be cared for in ways that minimize fear, pain, stress, and suffering. Procedures related to animal housing, management, care, and use should be continuously evaluated, and when indicated, refined or replaced. Conservation and management of animal populations should be humane, socially responsible, and scientifically prudent.

Animals shall be treated with respect and dignity throughout their lives and, when necessary, provided a humane death. The veterinary profession shall continually strive to improve animal health and welfare through scientific research, education, collaboration, advocacy, and the development of legislation and regulations.

Government of UK set up the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Committee in 1967, which became the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) in 1979. FAWC has recommended the following five freedoms for farm animals

Freedom from thirst and hunger by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour Freedom from discomfort by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area Freedom from pain, injury, and disease by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment Freedom to express most normal behaviour by providing sufficient space, proper facilities, and company of the animal's own kind Freedom from fear and distress by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering

Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA) Objectives The motto of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act 1960 as amended in 1982, is to prevent infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering on animals. The Central Government has constituted a Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA) under the aegis of Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) which is duty bound to take all such measures as may be necessary to ensure that animals are not subjected to unnecessary pain or suffering before, during or after the performance of experiments on them. For this purpose, the Government has made "Breeding of and Experiments on Animals (Control and Supervision) Rules, 1998" as amended during 2001 and 2006, to regulate the experimentation on animals. Functions All establishments engaged in research and education involving animals, are required to comply with the various guidelines, norms and stipulations set out by CPCSEA. The main functions of CPCSEA are:

Registration of establishments conducting animal experimentation or breeding of animals for this purpose. Selection and appointment of nominees in the Institutional Animal Ethics Committees of registered establishments. Approval of Animal House Facilities on the basis of reports of inspections conducted by CPCSEA. Permission for conducting experiments involving use of animals. Recommendation for import of animals for use in experiments. Action against establishments in case of violation of any legal norm/stipulation.

Experimentation on animals in course of medical research and education is covered by provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and Breeding of and Experiments on Animals (Control & Supervision) Rules of 1998, 2001 and 2006 framed under the Act. These are enforced by the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA), a statutory body under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Under these provisions, the concerned establishments are required to get themselves registered with CPCSEA, form Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC), get their Animal House Facilities inspected, and also get specific projects for research cleared by CPCSEA before commencing the research on animals.

Further, breeding and trade of animals for such experimentation are also regulated under these Rules. In an amendment bought out in 2006 in the Rules for Breeding of and Experiments on Animals (Control & Supervision), powers to permit experiments on small animals were given to Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) of the establishments. Only proposals for conducting experiments on large animals are required to be sent to CPCSEA for approval. Every Institutional Animals Ethics Committee (IAEC) shall include 7 (Seven) members as under: A biological Scientist Two Scientist from different biological discipline A Veterinarian involved in the care of Animal Scientist In-Charge of Animal House Facility of the establishment. A Scientist from outside the institute A Non Scientific Socially Aware Member

The Non Scientific Socially Aware Person nominated to the IAEC must be someone involved in animal welfare activity/ member of NGO related to animal welfare/ social welfare works and shouldnt be associated with the establishment. The Scientist from outside the institute should be from other institute / establishment. The main nominee and link nominee are nominated by CPCSEA for the institute / establishment.

National Institute of Animal Welfare (NIAW), Ballabhgarh, Haryana History As per the decision of the Standing Finance Committee held on 16th January. 1999 under the chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, it has been decided to establish a National Institute of Animal Welfare (NIAW) in Ballabhgarh (Haryana). The decision to establish the Institute was based on a recognition of the need to promote awareness and disseminate information about animal welfare amongst the public and to impart education in this discipline in a professional manner with a structured framework in view of the intrinsic value of animals and their contribution not only to the country's economy but also in terms of social and environmental issues.

The necessity for establishing a NIAW has to be viewed in the background of the requirements of the new century where new specializations and specialties, based primarily on futuristic technologies, will form the primary core required for development in the general area of poverty alleviation. These will focus on the use of animals to provide employment opportunities and generation of wealth with a humane face for those who are below the poverty line in this country. This change in educational pattern will have to be tempered with a totally new concept of perceptions in the new era of education. There is a need for niche education for specific job requirements in the animal welfare sector. There is a felt need for trained personnel who are currently not available to work in the animal welfare sector where over 70% of all agricultural households are involved with animals as a livelihood option. The Animal Welfare Board of India has over 2500 organizations registered with it which are involved in the field of animal welfare. The Government has allocated funds for the upkeep of shelters and rescue work. Though the intentions of the organizations are commendable, these are usually not managed in a professional manner as there is no scope for proper education in the field. The NIAW will be in a position to fill this vacuum. It is envisaged that the Institute would provide the learning and training ground for a wide range of services to improve the quality of services for the care and protection of animals.

Background

The proposal to set up a National Institute of Animal Welfare (NIAW) in Ballabhgarh, Haryana was approved by the Standing Finance Committee in its meeting of 16.3.1999. Land measuring around 8.3 acres was procured in Village Sikri, District Faridabad, Haryana. The foundation stone of the Institute was laid on 15th April, 1999. Presently, NIAW is working as a Subordinate office under the administrative control of Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Mandate & Objectives

NIAW has been conceptualized as an apex body in the field of animal welfare and its broad mandate covers the need to improve animal welfare through research, education and public outreach. Its objective is to create enabling environment for fulfilment of the statutory requirements as laid down in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. It is imparting training and education on diversified subjects in Animal Welfare including animal management, behavior and ethics.