The curious case of stray dogs

Everyday thousands of cases are registered in hospitals regarding people being bitten by stray dogs. Often seen near garbage dumpsters, the stray dogs are mostly perceived as a menace and derogatory to the urban surroundings. Yes, it is true that people are bitten by stray dogs and at the most they have to take rabies shots. But the atrocities that the stray dogs face are rarely reported. At present, the scenario has improved partially for the strays but the gore acts of violence against the stray dogs are still at large. Dogs have been perceived as ‘man’s best friend’ since time immemorial then why are they the victim of sadistic pleasure of the humans. Are we humans so lost at beautifying our surroundings that we forget that stray dogs are also dogs and most importantly living beings?

Most stray dogs found in Asia and Africa belong to the ancient canine race known as the Pariah Dogs and have been the residing in both the continents since people started settling in. It is estimated that the breed has survived in India for around 14000 years and have evolved into a scavenging species living on the wastes of the humans. They are close relatives of the Spitz and Australian Dingo. The Pariah breed is not very popular among breeders and hence, people don’t even consider it for adoption since they are just the ‘desis’. Pariah dogs are known be a gentle yet a ‘rough & tough’ breed and are capable watch dogs as well. Though they might not be as elegant as the German Shephard but their beauty only lies in the eyes of the beholder. Israel is probably the only country where the Pariah is a recognized breed and are specially bred.   

In urban settlements, strays are mostly mongrels i.e. mix breeds of the Pariah and other pure breed dogs. Besides being scavengers, they are also kept as pets by rural residents and urban poor communities. In urban India, the stray population has been increasing due to the exponential amount of garbage found in urban settings which is also raising the issue of possibilities of people contracting rabies. There is a general sense of stigma in our society regarding these gentle creatures. Festivals turn into nightmares for these poor dogs. Drenching strays with colored water during Holi really affects their coat as these colors are made with chemicals. Similarly, tying firecrackers is another sadistic act which often ends with seriously injuring and traumatizing the dog or even death. Similarly, unnecessarily beating dogs, pouring acid, maiming their body parts are some common ways of humans to show power or just for fun. But the same people will probably kill someone who commit the same activities on their beloved ones. The question that arises is how the dog lovers can protect the strays?

Under the Indian laws, animal cruelty is an offence under Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, and Section 429 of the Indian Penal Code which is punishable with imprisonment and fine. Likewise, criminal intimidation, and criminally intimidating animal welfare volunteers is a serious offence under the Indian Penal Code (specifically, Section 503 of Indian Penal Code read with Section 506 of the Indian Penal Code 1860).

As per Indian law, street dogs cannot be beaten or driven away. The only humane, legal and scientific way of dealing with street dogs is to get them vaccinated and sterilized under Animal Birth Control Programme (ABC). Under this program, stray dogs can be picked up, neutered, vaccinated against rabies and released in the respective areas from where they had been captured, which is in accordance with the Animal Birth Control Rules 2001 framed, under Section 38 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 and as per the orders of Honorable Supreme Court of India. Government of India notified the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 vide the Gazette of India: Extra Ordinary Part II, Sec. 3, sub section II dated 24th December 2001 to implement sterilization and vaccination of street/community dogs to control the dog population.

There is a specific bar against dislocating dogs, since the same tends to interfere with and jeopardize the area-wise animal birth control. For the area-wise sterilization program mandated by law, dogs have to be returned back to their original habitat after sterilization and immunization. These dogs then tend to fight off other, newer, possibly unsterilized and unvaccinated dogs from entering their territories, since dogs are highly territorial in nature. Dislocation of street dogs has time and again proven to be counter-productive and only favors the entry of other non-sterilized street dogs into the area, which will not only be unknown to you but also to those who tend to the area’s street dogs, thus raising more cases of man-animal conflict.

To conclude, dogs are a gift of nature to mankind and that should be respected. We don’t have to invest any money on strays nor do they have any materialistic desires from us. The dogs are only hungry for some love and compassion. The winds of change can already be seen through organizations like Frendicoes, Jaagruti, The Welfare of Street Dogs (WSD) etc. which are working day and night towards improving the conditions of the strays. So, next time when you are out, just look at the strays and observe their hunger for your love and remember, a little compassion never hurt anyone.

Sources:

http://www.wsdindia.org/

http://pets.indiatimes.com/articleshow.cms?chname=pets&artID=1062179212

http://jaagruti.org/

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/07/world/asia/india-stray-dogs-are-a-menace.html?_r=0

http://www.strays.in/

http://forcechange.com/34340/stop-brutal-killings-of-stray-dogs-in-india/

Tiger tourism and India

Wildlife tourism refers to the type of tourism where the motive of the tourist is to experience wildlife in its natural surroundings and admire the beauty of exotic, wild species. Wild life tourism is a debatable concept in India. It has two perceptions where one perception is about setting wildlife apart from tourism to protect the endangered species whereas the second perception is to promote wildlife tourism for the conservation of the species. With 99 national parks and more than 400 wildlife sanctuaries, India has rich population of flora and fauna. Though there are many species of flora and fauna, Tiger has emerged as the most important wildlife tourism product. The 30% percent increase in the last four years has also opened the gates for more people to come see the majestic species in the wilderness.     

Many people are under the impression that India does not have strong wildlife conservation laws. On the contrary, India has some of the most stringent legislations to protect wildlife and habitats. It is also vital to understand which institutions control land in India before any conservation interventions can be attempted in any landscape. The legal status of the land must first be ascertained so that one can engage with the correct authorities or agencies. The Wildlife (Protection) Act (WLPA), 1972 is an important statute that provides a powerful legal framework for prohibition of hunting, protection and management of wildlife habitats, establishment of protected areas, regulation and control of trade in parts and products derived from wildlife, and management of zoos. The WLPA provides for several categories of Protected Areas/Reserves such as National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Tiger Reserves, Conservation Reserves, and Community Reserves. National parks and Tiger Reserves are by law more strictly protected, allowing virtually no human activity except that which is in the interest of wildlife conservation. Grazing and private tenurial rights are disallowed in National Parks but can be allowed in sanctuaries at the discretion of the Chief Wildlife Warden. The amended WLPA does not allow for any commercial exploitation of forest produce in both national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, and local communities can collect forest produce only for their bona fide needs. Community reserves and conservation reserves are two new categories of protected areas that have been included under the WLPA. These two categories provide a greater role for local communities, stakeholders and civil society as well as the opportunity to protect many areas of conservation value that cannot be designated under strict categories such as wildlife sanctuaries or national parks.

Similarly, the National Wildlife Action Plan of 2002 which replaces the earlier plan adopted in 1983 most closely represents an actual policy on protection of wildlife. It focuses on strengthening and enhancing the protected area network, on the conservation of endangered wildlife and their habitats, on controlling trade in wildlife products and on research, education, and training. Mainly, these two laws have deal with wildlife tourism in India. These laws define areas which are open for touristic activities and any kind of touristic activities outside the designated area is punishable by law. This provides protection of the species and on the other hand enables sustainable wildlife tourism. Under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, the state governments have to notify the list of core and buffer areas of tiger reserves in their territory. Core zone (critical tiger habitats) i.e. where tigers usually rest, reside, feed and breed. Therefore, Government aims at preventing any disturbance in such areas, including tourism. Buffer zones constitute the fringe areas (The outside boundary or surface of something) of tiger reserves up to 10 KMs where tourism is allowed. An important judgement taken by the Supreme Court in July 2012 was to ban tiger tourism from the core areas of tiger reserves. This was perceived negatively but it had to be done for the protection of the species. But after a few months it was lifted as the absence of tourism might lead to poaching activities.   

Tiger tourism has mainly emerged because of the Project Tiger which is central scheme started in 1973 and is currently being implemented in 41 Tiger Reserves in 17 states. Project Tiger aims at ‘in-situ’ conservation or on site conservation. Project Tiger provides for staff, equipment, and infrastructure in tiger reserves. It also provides compensation, in case a man or livestock is killed by wild animals etc. National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body which coordinate, implement and monitor Project Tiger along with preparing annual reports.

There are many pros and cons associated with tiger tourism in India. The advantage from tiger tourism is that tiger tourism sector accounts as a major source of income to the domestic economy. There are towns which depend on tiger tourism such as Ranthambore in Rajasthan where tiger tourism offers direct as well as indirect livelihood opportunities to the local people. Similarly, the state of Madhya Pradesh has recorded high level of employment opportunities for the locals through tiger tourism. Tourism actually has helped in the boom of tiger population as through tourism there are more ears and eyes present on the ground level and presence of tourists does not deter tiger’s willingness to hunt or breed. Through tourism, poaching rate has actually come down and most poaching activities are reported during the off season. Touristic activities also reduce the dependence of the local communities on the forest for their livelihood.

The loopholes in tiger tourism can be noted on the recklessness of the tour operators who offer day and night tours. The amount of chaos due to the vehicles, honking, shouting and flash lights might disturb the tigers. Unsustainable constructions of resorts, guest houses, camps lead to degradation of forests. With more tourists, there will be more wastes which degrade the environment.

Wildlife tourism sector has made India prominent in the world map and in recent years the boom of this sector has also seen the decrease in poaching activities which is one of the reasons for the increase in tiger population. But the problem lies in the fact that other important species are not as lucky as the tiger. The status of the Asian Rhino, Gibbon etc. is reaching the endangered mark and they are still being poached recklessly. No particular scheme is there for such species. The plight of smaller species is also not in good shape. For having a successful wildlife tourism sector, India needs to broaden its horizon and implement schemes like Project Tiger for other species as well.

References:

·         http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/oct/18/india-lifts-ban-tiger-tourism

·         http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/magazines/cover-story/6827-wildlife-tourism-can-india-turn-it-into-a-conservation-tool.html

·         http://www.conservationindia.org/topics/wildlife-tourism

http://www.thewildlifeofindia.com/blog/increase-in-wildlife-tourism-a-positive-step-towards-conservation.html

Indian Football: Ache din kab ayenge?

As a child born in the early nineties, I was more of a cricket buff. The flashy batting of the Sri Lankans, fiercest bowling attacks of the Africans and Australians, and of course the frail one-man batting line up of Indians; cricket was absolutely a bliss. But then as time passed, Indian cricket evolved so did the fans of the game.With 2 World Cups, 2 Champions Trophy, 1 T20 World Cup and attaining temporary supremacy in Tests, and a very rich board; India has become a juggernaut in International Cricket.

I don't recall exactly when I started watching football, but I do follow football because of the love I developed for the game. Because I was only a player with limited abilities, watching football became an obsession. I chose Manchester United as my mecca in the footballing world and was fascinated by France (Zidane era) before attaining puberty. In the I-League, I followed Bengaluru FC, ISL its NorthEast FC and teams from other European leagues as well. But I did start watching football with France and Manchester United  and later on moved to Indian football and I would not deny that.

There is a distinction in loving the game and following a football club which many people don't understand. 

When I talk about Indian Football, its always the one story that I hear about how the Indian football team qualified during 1950 Jules Rimmet Trophy (Currently, FIFA World Cup), Brazil but couldn't play to their merit because 'they were used to barefoot football'. I am pretty sure most of football fans from India must be familiar with this story. But then the truth is that India never sent a team to Brazil that is why we didn't play. The reasons were lack of communication, finance and most importantly, selection of the team.  See, 1950 was also the year India was hosting the Asian Games which was postponed to 1951. This was also another reason for not sending a team since it was the first time where Indians were the hosts and spending money on a football team for Brazil? Are you kidding? Anyway, Indian football's past is filled with one major success i.e. the 1948 World cup for playing in it, Nehru Cup and 'few cups here and there'.

Yesterday (12th March, 2015) I watched the pre-qualifier for 2018 World Cup, Russia against Nepal. I must admit that in all the years I've seen India playing football, they played the most attractive football yesterday. The pressing, the long through balls, the defensive abilities and some partially shoddy finishing got us the result of two nil. I still feel we could have scored at least 5 goals. But what I didn't like was the empty stadiums, and the horrible broadcasting. The pitch was great and so were the match officials. Star Sports, who created such massive PR strategies for the Indian Super League (ISL) was only limited to the bill boards in this match. If people do not even know that there's a crucial match for the national team, then how do you expect the fans to follow the national team? The All India Football Federation (AIFF) officials were present and were saying how India is going great in football but is it the case here?

One can easily point fingers to cricket and the Indian football fans who only watch leagues from other countries but fail to follow football in India except the ISL. But then it won't be justified and these excuses are not genuine any more.

Indian Football following is in a rut which is not a surprise and football lovers from India cannot be blamed for supporting European clubs because there is a acute weakness in the communication process of the AIFF. Private news channels rarely feature I-League or Santosh Trophy features in their sports segment. Online content is also minimal for these competitions. The ISL was an absolute success which attracted record number of fans in the stadiums. One might say that it was the presence of international stars that made it happen. But besides retired international footballers, it was the brilliant PR strategies, Private partnership, humongous money by the government  and a pro-active role of the AIFF that made it a big thing. Then what in the world is happening in the domestic league and cups? Why are the stadiums empty in an international qualifier when the basic tickets are just for INR 100.

There is a need to strengthen the communication in terms of fans. Star Sports can further enforce their media dictatorship by showing more action from I-league and other domestic cups and creating shows like 'Sizzling Chettri' or 'Subroto, the Wall' and can begin with something basic like 'Know your players'. But on a serious note, if private parties are given more investment opportunities and the football board be de-centralized, there is a chance that the sleeping giant, India can also dominate in the game of football. I am no expert in sports management but its even clear to me that the present set up is not working out. If ISL can be a big deal, why can't I-League and cup games be leveled to the same heights? Bengaluru FC is one team in the I-League where the fans even travel for away games! How did they do it? they just 'connected' with the fans.

BCCI has shown how money changes fortunes, then what is up with AIFF? Media houses and private parties have to take the initiative to strengthen the game in India. Currently, we are 171 (February 2015 ratings) in the World Rankings which is a shame because finances wise, India is better than most African countries in the rankings. Then where is it going wrong? India is not short of football fans but why the half-empty stadiums? Communication is the most crucial aspect which should be prioritized by the AIFF.

Lets support the game and our country, rather than sulking and shouting 'we never qualify' song. Small drops make up an ocean. Lets give the game a chance to thrive in a country driven by cricket, Bollywood, Ache din and Bans.

For starters, knowing the name of the players might be a good idea.   

                 

       

Y U do this, Oh! Manchester United?

I remember an interview, where someone said that Sir Alex just before  the game with Spurs, just came inside the dressing room and said," Its  just Totenham, Lads" and left. That was confidence. 

Been a United Fan for the last 12 years (Die-hardness was sprinkled when I learnt the rules of the game, courtesy FIFA 2005)  and have never seen such monotonous back passes and long balls in the history of United gameplay.

Though it would wrong to directly target Van Gaal but then I do feel there is something wrong with his 'philosophy', atleast in the Premier League. The possession football was usually employed by United in Champions league with bigger clubs rather than being used with clubs like Burnley, OPR in this season (No Offence). 

Now I am even scared when we face the teams in the relegation zone. Confidence has gone for hike from the team. If not for David De Gea, we would have been 10th or 11th in the league.

The primary problem is that we do not have a fixed team. The back four changes in almost all the games, our main striker was played out of position, Falcao is not the same anymore, Fellaini is getting more chances than Mata, Di Maria is losing his confidence, Janujaz is becoming 'Nani-er'. Out of the 150M spent, only Blind and Rojo have given satisfactory performances.

LVG is a good tactician but he mostly thrives in a Galácticos system. Whereas, currently United are not anyway near that. 

The thing about losing is, if you play attractive football and loose even the opponents respect you. But if you win because of luck and long balls then behold the memes and importantly the morale of the fans goes for the toss.

Losing is a part of the game. Great teams have lost their way but have come back. Liverpool, Arsenal and this time Southampton are some examples. I don't mind losing but the way United has lost the games this season is frustrating. When you have a designated RB in the squad, Valencia has been fielded there. A versatile midfielder, Carrick is played in the defense. What's next, Valdes as a striker?

The spirit of attacking football is dying out, for which the devils were famous for. I  am pretty impressed by the way the Gunners, West Ham and Southampton have played. There is an intent of attacking, one touch football. I am sorry to say but United are desperately using long ball tactics which is not creative at all (read desperation) and is the basics in Football tactics 101.

The remaining fixtures are going to be really difficult. It will decide if we will play Champions league or Europa league. The way we have played this season, we actually do not deserve to be in the Champions league.

As a die hard fan, I am more than happy to be in the losing side than winning games based on luck, long-ball and back passes.

I hope and wish that we can see the attacking and not-giving-a-fuck Manchester United in the future, most importantly in the near future.  

Watching a match till 3:30 AM and going to office after sleeping 3 hours is not a child's play and needs Cojones. I hope see some from Manchester United too. Redemption is the right word here.

GGMU.