Animal welfare requires as much a structured policy approach as do other sectors in India. Conflict that exists today is due to lack of an integrated policy approach which in turn exacerbates the conflict and instigates public health crises. The Indian Constitution already recognises the importance of animal welfare. Article 48A mandates the state to protect and improve the environment and safeguard wildlife, while Article 51A(g) imposes a fundamental duty on citizens to show compassion for living creatures. Despite these provisions, animal welfare remains a peripheral concern in structured policy making, even though it can lead to human welfare outcomes.  

Animal welfare is not just a moral imperative. The UN’s SDGs lay emphasis on the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. SDG15 (Life on Land) calls for the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity, while SDG3 (Good Health and Well-being) highlights the importance of preventing zoonotic diseases, which often arise from poor animal welfare practices. 

Take for instance credit practices in the animal rearing sector in India. These rarely incorporate guidelines around living standards for animals, which have a direct bearing on human health. Financial institutions provide loans for dairy farming, poultry, and other livestock-related activities without ensuring that borrowers adhere to basic animal welfare standards. Besides perpetuating inhumane practices, this also undermines the long-term sustainability of these industries. This is not surprising since there are no standardised welfare guidelines for lending institutions to follow. While nothing precludes these institutions from incorporating guidelines into their credit evaluation and risk assessment practices, a regulatory nudge will ensure faster adoption.

Global precedents already exist. The Farm Animal Investment Risk & Return (FAIRR) Initiative encourages financial institutions to assess and manage risks related to animal welfare, such as antibiotic use, overcrowding, and inhumane slaughter practices. Banks and corporate sector can also use the existing Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards to assess the animal welfare practices of businesses they lend to or invest in.

The EU (Directive 98/58/EC, EC No 1099/2009, 2010/63/EU), UK (Animal Welfare Act 2006 and  Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007), USA (Animal Welfare Act, Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, and other state laws), Australia (Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines), Canada (Health of Animal Act), New Zealand (Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) 2018), and other countries have implemented laws that integrate these principles into their mainstream policies on treatment and upkeep of farm animals, transport and humane slaughter, and on animal use in pharma and other scientific research. There is no reason why India cannot do the same. 

Another critical policy lacuna is in the lack of infrastructure for dignified animal death. While human crematoriums are widely available, animal crematoriums are scarce, forcing many to resort to improper disposal methods that pose public health risks. The dignity of animal death is often overlooked, despite its significance in reducing environmental contamination and preventing the spread of diseases. This is particularly true in animal mandis, where carcasses are often discarded in plain sight on the roads, seriously risking cross contamination.

A more inclusive approach to urban development, one that incorporates animal shelters, feeding points, and veterinary care, could mitigate many existing issues. An integrated policy approach is one that considers good governance and better urban and health planning, from the Centre to localised government bodies. 

Incorporating animal welfare into existing regulatory frameworks offers numerous benefits. In the short term, it can improve public awareness by reducing the risk of zoonotic diseases while ensuring the humane treatment of animals. In the medium term, it can enhance the sustainability of industries and reduce the carbon footprint of agriculture and allied industries, pharma, and even food industry, which rely heavily on animals. In the long term, it can mitigate animal-human conflicts by fostering coexistence and preserving ecosystems.

From the lack of regulations around the treatment of livestock in industrial farming contributing to environmental degradation and the spread of antibiotic resistance, to the absence of guidelines for marine life protection causing depletion of aquatic ecosystems which are vital for food security and biodiversity, the absence of regulations for animal blood banks by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare or a comprehensive airline pet transport policy by the Ministry of Civil Aviation or DGCA, or the lack of dedicated pet crematoriums or cemeteries provided by local municipalities, the list is long, but not impossible to tackle.

India urgently needs to reevaluate her policy and regulatory frameworks to better incorporate animal welfare interests. While existing laws in India provide a foundation, they fail to deter or reduce the frequency of conflicts or help build a more synthesized ecosystem for animals and humans. 

By moving beyond outdated laws and fragmented approaches, India can create a more holistic and inclusive framework. This requires collaboration across ministries and regulators, from finance and urban development to health and environment. Incorporating animal welfare into existing frameworks is not just a moral obligation but also a practical solution to some of India’s most pressing challenges. It is time to think beyond Wildlife (Protection) Act and the Dog Rule Act and embrace a broader vision of animal welfare – a more holistic policy based approach – one that integrates animal welfare into broader regulatory frameworks and ensures that the dignity of animal life and death is upheld even if not for their own sake, then for the sake of public human health!

Soundararajan and Goswami are co-founders of Policy Consensus Centre, a Delhi based research think.

Photo credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stray_dog_indian.jpg