Animals will, henceforth, be better protected during disasters, following the recent launch of country’s first National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In the process, World Animal Protection (WAP) is now integrated into disaster management planning to ensure security, protection and welfare of animals during such emergencies. The animal perspectives covered in the National Disaster Management Plan include various aspects beginning from their search, rescue and evacuation during the occasion. For this handbook/manuals and Standard Operation Procedures for evacuation need to be prepared.
Detailed plans would get drawn up on the occasion for close coordination with the State Government for managing the removal/disposal of carcass of animals from the affected areas as soon as possible. Other issues in this regard include identification of safe building and sites to serve as temporary shelters for people and livestock evacuated from localities at risk, provision of fodder for livestock in scarcity-hit areas; when required mobilize fodder and cattle feed to meet shortages as in drought or scarcity conditions besides enlisting PSUs and private agencies for providing fodder and other support.
According to Gajender Sharma, Country Director, WAP India, it has been a long journey to integrate animals into the core of disaster management. In the course of partnership with the National Disaster Management Authority WAP gave its respective recommendations on various ways and means of animal protection and welfare during crisis, which have been accepted. These include building resilience for the safety, evacuation and rehabilitation of animals, provision of food and fodder, and focus on disaster training which have been included in the national plan. “We now urge state governments to include animals in their respective state disaster management plans, to safeguard the welfare of more animals in emergencies,” said Sharma.
The animal lovers have hailed the measures to be adopted to protect, rescue and care for animals during disasters. Accordingly, there will now be standard and uniform procedures during all disaster management planning, “ensuring animals are never the forgotten victims of disasters,” they said.