Sultanpur: A meeting of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) was held under the chairmanship of District Magistrate Indrajeet Singh in the presence of Chief Development Officer Vinay Kumar Singh to review animal welfare initiatives and strengthen measures against cruelty to animals in the district.
At the outset, Dr. Pramod Kumar Sharma briefed members on the compliance report of decisions taken during the previous meeting. The committee then reviewed various agenda items related to animal welfare and protection.
Regarding the renewal of the SPCA, the Chief Veterinary Officer informed the meeting that all required documents had been submitted to the concerned authorities and the renewal process is expected to be completed within a week.
The committee was also informed that the SPCA bank account is operational after completion of the required KYC formalities. Officials further stated that members for key positions under the society had already been nominated by the state government.
Reviewing the issue of illegal transportation of animals through railways and highways, the Assistant Regional Transport Officer reported that regular monitoring and vigilance are being maintained and no major cases had recently come to notice. The District Magistrate, however, directed officials to intensify surveillance along district borders during nighttime and conduct periodic joint checking drives with the police department.
Expressing concern over illegal slaughter and unauthorized transportation of milch animals, the District Magistrate instructed the City Circle Officer to coordinate with local police station heads and ensure strict enforcement of relevant laws.
To strengthen food safety measures, food safety officials and veterinary authorities were directed to carry out surprise inspections of meat shops on a regular basis and ensure compliance with prescribed standards.
During the meeting, non-government members informed the administration that the animal welfare ambulance currently available with them is in urgent need of repairs. Taking immediate cognizance, the District Magistrate directed officials to prepare an estimate and arrange funds for repair work from the SPCA account. He also appealed to members and stakeholders to encourage donations to support animal welfare activities in the district.
Members additionally raised the demand for establishing a Dog Feeding Centre and an Animal Feeding Centre (AVC) in Sultanpur. Responding positively, the District Magistrate instructed the Executive Officer of the Municipal Council and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Sadar) to identify suitable land and submit a proposal without delay.
The meeting was attended by Divisional Forest Officer Amit Singh, In-charge Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Pramod Kumar Sharma, City Circle Officer Shailendra Tiwari, Assistant Regional Transport Officer Lal Chandra Saroj, Municipal Executive Officer Ramashankar Patel, PSO Kumar Singh, District Panchayat representatives, and nominated non-government members including Prashant Dwivedi, Praveen Dubey, Jitendra Srivastava, and Sangeeta Shukla, along with officials and staff from the Animal Husbandry Department.
The review meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening animal welfare infrastructure, preventing cruelty to animals, and ensuring better coordination among departments for the protection and care of animals across the district.
