Animal Welfare: Towards a Kinder World

International Animal Rights Day is being observed on December 10, 2022. Each year, on this day, people are persuaded to show kindness and respect towards every sentient being, including animals. But is there a change?

The world is changing at a fast pace. With growing social concerns, animal well-being usually takes a backseat. With a livestock population of approximately 535.78 million, India needs huge veterinary infrastructure to ensure its well-being. Nearly 5.02 million stray cattle and 35 to 40 million stray dogs need specific supportive programmes to reduce human-animal conflict and ensure the quality of animal and human health.

The Inception
To improve the future of animal health and well-being, Anil Agarwal Foundation (AAF) launched, “The Animal Care Organisation” (TACO), a groundbreaking project for animal welfare that offers top-notch infrastructure, veterinary care, training centers, and animal shelters to help heal and safeguard animals. The project aims for "a compassionate India where every animal lives with dignity and respect" and caters to the needs of stray and domesticated animals with its four pillars, namely, Shelter (to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome sick or injured animals), Hospital (to create state-of-the-art hospitals for animals in need of care), Academy (to educate and train the community about helping animals), and Wildlife (to focus on conservation & welfare).

Founded by Vedanta Limited’s Non-Executive Director Priya Agarwal Hebbar, TACO aims to set up a sustainable and scalable ecosystem for the well-being of animals, in collaboration with global and national academic institutions and knowledge partners. The project delivers best-in-class facilities for animals in need of care, support, and shelter.

The Inspiration: Coexistence of animal and human on planet
TACO adheres to the widely acknowledged standards of care that uphold every living being’s right to respect, dignity and compassion, having a right to "five freedoms” established on the idea of providing freedom from physical pain, hunger & thirst, discomfort, fear & distress and the freedom to express most normal behaviour.

To transform the ecosystem of animal welfare through a cooperative and multidisciplinary approach, TACO partnered with YODA (Youth Organization in Defence of Animals) as its implementing agency to build a sustainable and scalable animal welfare ecosystem by developing a holistic welfare programme to address the ever-growing animal health and well-being challenges. TACO’s work covers a wide spectrum, ranging from medical research to capacity-building programs, from outreach and advocacy to investment in training animal health professionals as well.

Fronting Animal Care
In accordance with the vision of the project, the Anil Agarwal Foundation signed an MoU with the Government of Haryana and adopted Tapobhoomi Gaushala, located in Faizupur Khadar, Faridabad, with the aim to develop it as a model animal shelter. The project was rolled out in the NCR with an initial corpus of Rs. 100 crore and an aim to foray into other states in India.

Aligning with its goal to include care for all species and class, TACO also shook hands with the Forest Department, Government of Rajasthan, on International Tiger Day to raise awareness about the conservation of wild cats, as AAF extended a grant of Rs. 1 crore. The grant is being utilized by the government to procure six patrolling vehicles to enhance the wildlife conservation activities while strengthening the surveillance and infrastructure at Ranthambore National Park.

The Animal Care Organisation (TACO) project's anticipated results include access to good medical care and nutritious food, adoption and rehabilitation, scientifically based stray animal population control, community-based sustainable livelihood opportunities, and a decrease in human-animal conflict through education and awareness which will play a crucial step in it heralding a change.

Making a difference
TACO endeavors to be the voice of voiceless! The voice of love, care, concern and empathy towards the animals suffering from hunger, fear and distress, who can’t even express their emotions and behavior around humans. It stands to protect animals and their welfare through nurturing compassion and care. Mobilizing a collective effort with relevant communities, it is focusing on providing a safe, healthy and harmless environment to these sentient beings.