Animal Welfare Board of India
The Animal Welfare Board of India is a statutory advisory body on Animal Welfare Laws and promotes animal welfare in the country. Established in 1962 under Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (No. 59 of 1960), the Animal Welfare Board of India was started under the stewardship of Late Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale, well known humanitarian. From ensuring that animal welfare laws in the country are diligently followed, to provide grants to Animal Welfare Organizations and advising the Government of India on animal welfare issues, the Board has been the face of the animal welfare movement in the country for the last 50 years. The Board consists of 28 Members. The term of office of Members is for a period of 3 years.
Constitution of Animal Welfare Board of India
The Animal Welfare Board of India, the first of its kind to be established by any Government in the world, was set up in 1962, in accordance with Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Acts 1960 (No.59 of 1960). Shrimati Rukmini Devi Arundale pioneered the setting up of the Board, with its Headquaters at Chennai. She guided the activities of the Board for nearly twenty years till her demise in 1986.
- Chairman
- Vice - Chairman *
- Inspectors General of Forests (1)
- Animal Husbandry Commissioner (1)
- Rep of Miny. of Home Affairs (1)
- Rep of Miny. of HRD (Education) (1)
- MPs - Lok Sabha * (4)
- MPs - Rajya Sabha * (2)
- Individuals(3)
- Humanitarians(3)
- SPCAs (3)
- AWOs (3)
- Rep. of Indian Board for Wildlife (1)
- Rep. of Indian Veterinary Assn. (1)
- Rep. of Indian Medicine (1)
- Rep. of Allopathic Medicine (1)
- Municipal Corporations (2)
Total 28
* To be nominated
Chairman Dr. O.P. Chaudhary, IFS
Dr. O.P. Chaudhary, a senior IFS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre (1989 batch), has vast and varied experience in the field of administration, policy formulation, regulation, implementation, training and education. He started his career from District level thereafter he worked at Divisional level and State level at various positions in State of Madhya Pradesh. Presently he is working as a Joint Secretary, in the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India dealing on policy matters and implementation of National Schemes. He is also National Mission Leader for National Livestock Mission. Before the central assignments, other important positions he served are: Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF), in the State of Madhya Pradesh; Vice Chancellor, Singhania University, Rajasthan and Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, EPFO, Ministry of Labour, Government of India. He is highly qualified environmental engineer turned as most dedicated and committed bureaucrat with passion of environmental conservation and sustainable development. He has very brilliant track record during his past services as well as having academic excellence in higher studies from top Institutions in the country - M.Tech from IIT Roorkee, One Year General Management Programme for Executive from IIM Lucknow and also obtained Doctorate Degree in Finance Management from Symbiosis International University, Pune. He has also credit of the various technical and scientific publications. He has widely travelled across the country and overseas, represented the country on various fora and honoured from time to time for his outstanding contributions in the area of public administration, implementation of the programs and educational advancement. He has also headed and supervised National Schemes.
Secretary Dr. Sujit Kumar Dutta
Dr. Sujit Kumar Dutta born on 01.07.1967 at small town Naihati, in the District of North 24 Paraganas in West Bengal State. By profession, he is a Veterinarian. He has passed his B.V.Sc & A.H. degree from faculty of Veterinary Science from Bidhan Chandra KrishiViswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal. He also did Masters of Veterinary Science (Veterinary Medicine) from Indian Veterinary Research Institute in the year 1990 and passed M.V.Sc (Veterinary Medicine) in 1992. After completion of his Master’s Degree, he joined in the Veterinary Service in the Animal Resources Development Department, Government of West Bengal. He served as Veterinary Surgeon till 30th May 2007. During the tenure of posting as Veterinary Surgeon, he was involved in Rinder Pest eradication programme, Artificial Insemination with Frozen Semen Technology, Extension Programme, Dairy Cooperative Development, Animal Health controlprogramme. Dr. Dutta has joined in the Government of India, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries on June, 2007 as Assistant Commissioner. He was entrusted with the work of Animal Quarantine and Certification Services, Trade related matters, import, manufacturing and marketing of Veterinary Drugs and Vaccines, Risk Analysis, WTO Matters, Veterinary Council of India, Implementation of Livestock Importation Act, 1898, Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984. On 01.01.2012,he was promotedto the post of Deputy Commissioner. He was handling the charges of Livestock Health Division. Again hewas promotedto the Post of Joint Commissioner from 01.01.2016. During his posting in the Livestock Health Division, he was handling the matters related to Veterinary Council of India, AQCS related matters, Risk Analysis, Trade Related Matters, Zoning and Compartmentalization, PPR control programme, Brucellosis Control Programme, International Cooperation matters and also Performance Veterinary Services. He was also trained in PVS Evaluation process. Dr. Dutta is handling the issues related to Animal Welfare and implementation of Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, 1960. He is also holding the post of Member Secretary, CPCSEA and holding additional charge of Secretary AWBI.
