Kids went on social media asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take a stand against animal cruelty in India. With the hashtag #NoMore50, a campaign by People for Animals India and Humane Society International India, they want Modi to increase the fine animal abusers get.
If convicted, animal abusers can face up to five years in jail if booked and convicted under Section 429 of the Indian Penal Code 1860, but the fine for a first time convicted offender under Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 is set at only 50 rupees ($0,67).
“Today, I come to you with a very special request of making animal protection in India stronger,” the eight-year-old Nitya said in a video message for her prime minister. “It breaks my heart to see animals suffer.”
“I love animals, and I like playing with them, but some people aren’t kind to animals. They tie them in trees, and they also don’t give them food and they hit them with a stick,” the six-year-old Sara said, adding with an angry face: “So I want you to give them a strict punishment.”
“One may not like animals, but we should not beat or torture them,” another girl said while requesting the 50 rupees penalty to be increased. “It’s very sad to see how animals are treated badly by some people in our country,” a boy said.
The young boy Niranjan ended his message to Modi with the words of Mahatma Gandhi: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
6yr old Sara joins hands to appeal for stricter animal rights laws & punishments. Please help her dream come true Shri @narendramodi ji 🙏🏼 @PMOIndia @loksabhaspeaker @LokSabhaSectt @HMOIndia @gauri_maulekhi @pfaindia @rashtrapatibhvn pic.twitter.com/dpSwTSJCgc
— Azam Siddiqui (@azam24x7) November 13, 2020
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act was legislated in 1960 and hasn’t changed since. Animal welfare organizations have long advised the prime minister that’s it’s time to have stricter laws against animal cruelty.
Meet Ashar from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India told The Animal Reader that animal welfare laws should be stricter with higher fines and longer jail terms. India should look at how other countries deal with animal abuse, he said.
“Serious and brutal crimes of animal abuse are getting stricter jail times and heavier punishments like higher fines in the US,” Ashar said.
Acid attack on dog
The number of animal cruelty cases are rising in India. Recently, a couple was arrested for throwing acid on a dog in the rural town of Kasara. The acid burned the dog’s legs so extremely, his legs had to be amputated. He also lost part of his ear.
The animal welfare organization Sharan for Animals helps stray animals in Nashik. The founder Sharanya adopted the dog who she named Hope.
The couple was arrested, but under the existing law, the punishment does not fit the crime, animal activists say. And kids agree. From all over the country, they are sending video messages to Modi.
8 year old Nitya has a request for @narendramodi ji 🙏#PMFORANIMALS #AmendPCA @htTweets @TOIIndiaNews @ndtv @TimesNow @MirrorNow @the_hindu @IndiaToday @aajtak @CNBCTV18News @ShekharGupta@pfaindia @IndiaHSI @_pallavighosh @DhingraSanya pic.twitter.com/7yUBWHT73C
— gauri maulekhi (@gauri_maulekhi) November 17, 2020
On #ChildrensDay2020 , 8 – year old Hamsanandini asks @PMOIndia @narendramodi to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and increase the penalties. 50 rupees for hurting and killing #animals !? #NoMore50 #nomoreexcuses @girirajsinghbjp @pfaindia @gauri_maulekhi pic.twitter.com/g53SvNhqi1
— HSI/India (@IndiaHSI) November 14, 2020
We couldn’t help but share this cute and sincere message from a girl who wants animals to be safe. Requesting PM @narendramodi to increase the penalty for crimes against animals! #PMForAnimals #NoMore50 #ChildrensDay @PMOIndia @girirajsinghbjp @gauri_maulekhi @IndiaHSI pic.twitter.com/imdskEf6Oc
— Mercy For Animals India (@MFA_India) November 14, 2020
