Date: 2010-11-25 Place: Mumbai
http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/nov/251110-NGOs-Sterilising-dogs-rat-race-ABC-mumbai.htm
In the second leg of the three-part series, MiD DAY probes the controversial entry of new NGOs in the canine sterilisation drive and their lack of sensitivity towards the cause
The adage that too many cooks spoil the broth may hold true when it comes to the stray sterilisation drive taken up by several Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres in the city.
Several old ABC centres claim that the new institutes have commercialised what was once considered a noble cause.
New entrants
The BMC currently has nine NGOs for the ABC programme, which entails carrying out sterilisation of dogs and their subsequent release.
The BMC has engaged three new NGOs in the sterilisation programme the V-Team (November, 2009), the Royal Veterinarian Society of India (RVSI) in Mulund (2007) and the Animal Welfare Society (AWS) in Andheri (May, 2009).
The BMC started paying the NGOs after the entry of these centres.
However, the older centres in the city and some residents are not happy with the entry of the three centres. While some claim that they are inhumane, others allege that the new centres look at the ABC as a commercial venture, where profits are most important.
Dr Khanna, the secretary of Bombay Society of Prevention Against Cruelty of Animals, said, "We have received many complaints against the new NGOs in Mulund. We have heard that the conditions in which the dogs are kept at RVSI are bad."
Echoing his sentiments, Sunish Kunju of Plants and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) said, "There were other NGOs in the city. Why did the government bring in NGOs from outside? Many residents have also complained against the cruelty inflicted by these NGOs."
Several other NGO members also complain that the new centres have begun a kind of a rat race in order to raise more funds. Jigisha Thakore, secretary of All India Animal Welfare Association (AIAWA), said, "The ABC programme was begun in order to stop the ill-treatment meted out to dogs before 1994.
But, now these new 'contractors' have come in and begun indulging in a number game." She added, "I, however, have refrained from this number game."
While commercialisation is one of the complaints, others allege that the NGOs carry out mass operations without even considering the health of the dogs.
"The ABC programme is not only about the number of dogs that are getting sterilised but the qualitative method used for it.
It is not a factory that a product is manufactured and sold," said Abodh Aras, CEO of WSD. "We do not take any payment because of the lack of transparency in the allocation of the new centres and as a protest against the commercialisation of the ABC programme."
Residents complain
And, the complaints aren't just from different NGOs. Residents, too, complain that the sterilisation carried out is inhuman. Sourabh Edwankar, a resident of Borivli, found a pregnant dog on the streets. "When I went closer to see the dog, I noticed that she had marks indicating that she was already sterilised.
I was shocked at that." He added, "I raised concerns with the AWS but the matter was not dealt with and was buried quickly."
Ramesh Thapa (56) of Bhandup complained that the RVSI strangled a dog to death and left it on the road as it was not caught properly.
When MiD DAY contacted Dr Balvant Meshram of RVSI, he said, "There are thousands of allegations, but we have been deployed here to carry out the maximum number of sterilisations, which we are doing. And, if there were so many problems, we would have been removed from the project."
Another complain that arose was that dogs were being re-sterilised by some centres so that they could claim more money from the BMC. "I noticed the V-Team dog catchers picking up some strays which were already sterilised," said Varsha Pillai.
'Conspiracy'
When MiD DAY spoke to some of the members from the new NGOs in the ABC programme, all of them refuted these allegations.
Dr Nirmal Patil, head of AWS, said, "We are from the outskirts of the city and maybe that is why we are unwanted here despite the fact that our performance is very good.
We are aiming at sterilising all the dogs in the next two-three years, but now, because of a paucity of funds, we have had to reduce our staff."
Harendra Humne, manager, RVSI, said, "We are from Nagpur, which is why everyone else is trying to get us removed and complain against us constantly. It is a conspiracy."
Tomorrow
We speak to people who care for canines in many different ways and to institutes who care deeply for strays in the city
SPCA vs Dr Chavan
The recent deaths and the backlog of dogs waiting to be sterilised because of the inefficiency of a veterinary Dr Makrand Chavan at SPCA, who also operates on dogs at Welfare of Stray Dogs and In Defence of Animals faced criticism from the secretary of BSPCA.
Dr Khanna said, "Some deaths occurred after the sterilisation operations and Dr Makrand Chavan has been questioned, but he has always denied it."
However, Dr Chavan, said , "I carry out 500-600 operations at the three places every month. During this time, I have witnessed very few deaths.
However, if there have been deaths while I was operating on dogs at the SPCA, I don't mind taking the blame. People there don't keep the dogs ready for operation, so it is waste of my time"
