Animal lovers in Bangalore are upset over the delay in restarting of the 24/7 animal helpline.
Activist groups like CJ Memorial Trust have requested the government to restart the helpline, as it was of help to animal lovers. They have started an online petition for the revival of the helpline. According to the petition, the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AHVS) department assured them that the helpline would be re-operational in December 2023, but that did not happen.
The 24/7 animal welfare helpline number 8277100200 which had started under Rashtriya Krishi Vikasa Yojana’s (RKVY) ‘Strengthening of animal disease surveillance network’ program has not been functional since November 2023.
Priya Chetty Rajagopal, a member of CJ Memorial Trust said,“The helpline was a good facility set up by the government. All calls were answered at any point of time and action was immediately taken. It also provided much needed information to people. It was of big help for animal owners as well as people who wanted to lend a hand.
“However since November they have been left orphaned, now there is no helpline which caters to smaller animals like cats and dogs.” Rajagopal said. The helpline for cattle still works, though it is not round the clock.
Officials atthe Commissionerate of AHVS, Pashupalana Bhavana, Bengaluru, main office of the helpline agreed that the services of the helpline have been terminated and the number removed from the operational list.
N. Ramesh, The joint director of administration at Commissionerate of AHVS said that the contract for the helpline ended in November and new tenders are still not released by AHVS.
The animal welfare helpline was not only a helpline number in case of emergencies but also provided other useful information to callers about technical services provided by the department.
These included information about training in dairying, sheep and goat rearing, rabbit rearing, piggery, poultry, etc. that are regularly conducted by the department. It also educated callers about livestock diseases, precautionary measures to be followed for control of these diseases and vaccination programs.
Moreover, details of loans available from various banks for animal husbandry activities, were also available. Veterinary experts and professionals working in the department were responsible to provide this information.
Arnav, a resident of Koramangalaand an owner of three dogs, who also has taken part in animal welfare activities in Bangalore said that he tried calling the helpline last year as well as this year but the phone number was unreachable. He then tried their Facebook and WhatsApp accounts but had no success.
He added “many of my friends also tried calling for information and during emergencies, but got no response.”
Shandra, a student and another resident of Bangalore city said, “I found a stray dog outside the place I live in December last year. It was in a critical condition so I tried calling the helpline number, but it was not reachable . Therefore, I had to take the dog to a private clinic with my own money.”
Dr. M. C. Anil Kumar, Head of Department of veterinary clinical practice at Karnataka Veterinary Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Hebbal said, “The department that handles the helpline is not under any private outsourcing but the government itself and it is up to them with regards to the decision to restart the helpline. However, the helpline number 1962 is still available which only deals with problems related to cattle. Many doctors from my department opt to help in some cases which come up through that helpline.”
