Maharashtra animal welfare board haven't met since 2002

RTI inquiries have revealed that the Maharashtra State Animal Welfare Board has not had a meeting since 2002. According to a report in the Indian Express, the state animal welfare boards (SAWB), with a term of three years, were reconstituted in 1998, 2001, 2004 and in September 2013, but after its constitution in 1991, meetings were held once each in 1991, 1992 and 2002. [caption id=“attachment_1373941” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  The primary function of the animal welfare board is to ensure proper implementation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. AFP image[/caption] “No meetings, and not a single action taken by the SAWB, shows the state administration is not concerned with animal welfare. These boards are formed only to comply with the Centre’s direction,” said R K Joshi, who was a member of the board in 1998, 2001 and 2013, to the newspaper. The Animal Welfare Board of India and NGOs which work for animal welfare were united in their condemnation of the inactivity of the state board. “Most of the state animal welfare boards, including in Maharashtra have remained only on paper,” said an official from the AWBI to the newspaper. According to a report in the Times of India, the state government recently reached out to corporate houses to request their financial support for the animal welfare board.  “It will be highly appreciated if your organization strengthens the cause of animal welfare by generously extending financial support to the board,” Mishra wrote to a private cement company, according to the report.