Maneka urges NGOs to generate more money for animal welfare

Chennai, Jan 10 (UNI) Animal welfare activist and MP Maneka Gandhi today called upon the 5,000-odd animal welfare NGOs in the country to generate enough money to embark on more animal welfare activities.

Delivering the key-note address at the 4th Asia For Animals (AFA) conference here, she said lack of discipline, shortage of funds and no long-term vision goals had crippled the functioning of the NGOs in taking up more animal welfare activities.

Asking the NGOs to declare 2007, as the year for mobilising more funds for the animal welfare movement, Ms Gandhi urged the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to release maximum funds for the NGOs and take neccessary steps to frame laws to curb illegal dog breeding.

Earlier, bureaucrats Syed Munir Hoda, Abul Hassan, top police official Sailendra Babu, Journalist P Oppili and Umma Unnathi were conferred with AFA awards for their outstanding contribution to the animal welfare movement.

Nearly 300 delegates from 30 countries were participating in the three-day conference organised by the Blue Cross of India.

UNI