SAMRAKSHAN
Samrakshan is currently working in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya and Delhi. Our teams work with local communities in villages near the Kuno wildlife sanctuary in the state of Madhya Pradesh and in the Garo hills in Meghalaya. Samrakshan is supporting a range of activities in Madhya Pradesh to improve soil and water conservation, provide primary education in 15 villages and assist in cultivation of medicinal plants. We have also initiated a new field project in the Garo hills of Meghalaya which focuses on effecting conservation of habitats critical for wildlife, particularly the Asian elephant, through livelihood security of communities that share the landscape with wildlife.
Samrakshan's animal welfare effort is based in Delhi, with the current focus being to limit the stray dog population to manageable proportions. Through our Animal Birth Control (ABC) program, we undertake the vaccination-cum-sterilization of street dogs to prevent transmission of rabies and to reduce their population to a limit so that they become an acceptable and meaningful part of society. Our work is facilitated by the Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) with whom we have an MOU for this activity. Since the inception of this program in 2003, we have sterilized approximately 1800 dogs in Delhi.
The Animal Birth Control Program and Samrakshan's Role
Stray dog population has become one of the most significant and turbulent problems that is plaguing the metro city of Delhi. To reduce this population to a manageable level is a challenge for NGOs today. Attaining this goal requires mass-contact sterilization programs with residential localities to popularize the concept of sterilization with the public through awareness campaigns. Recognizing this fact, a Society for Stray Canine Birth Control (Society) was formed in December 2002 which includes representatives of the MCD, the Delhi Government and animal welfare organizations and is presided over by the Commissioner of MCD.
Since March 2003, Samrakshan has been working in collaboration with the Society to sterilize street dogs in the city. We have been provided two sterilization centers, one in north-west Delhi (Prahladpur) and the other in East Delhi (Ghazipur). The two centers work in a similar manner. Dogs are picked up from the respective zones and are transported to the sterilization unit. They are surgically operated upon, housed for a minimum of 7 days during their recovery period and then released in the same environment they are picked up from. These units serve strictly as sterilization centers.
Samrakshan has been provided a dog-catching vehicle by the Society which is used at the Prahladpur center. Dog-catching is done by our well trained staff, who employ the sack and loop method which is regarded as the most humane method for dog catching. We have also provided dog-catching services to another NGO, Jeevan Jyoti and have caught and released over 1000 dogs for them.
After considerable research on this issue across the world, mass sterilization and vaccination have been found to be the most effective and humane form of controlling stray dog numbers. This view has been endorsed by various organizations like the WHO, the Animal Welfare Board of India, World Society for the Protection of Animals and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, U.K. While sterilization stabilizes the street dog population, the vaccination program, which is a critical part of the ABC activity, helps control the rabies threat to human and dog lives. Our awareness program of promoting street dogs as community pets also gives them an acceptable and meaningful place in society.
Humane Education is one of the primary objective of Samrakshan. Advocacy in young minds and in older people develops a deeper appreciation for the value of kindness in human lives. Our long-term plan is to further our work in advocacy and humane education.
No work in animal welfare is complete without providing a safe haven for animals in distress. Even with control in street dogs numbers and formation of community pets, there is always a need for a shelter/hospital for sick, injured and abandoned animals. Samrakshan hopes to have such a place for animals in the future.
E-314, Anand Lok, Mayur Vihar Phase I, New Delhi
Tel: 98-112-12261, 26862552, 30222314, 22795088
