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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Humane solution to street dogs: It's as simple as ABC
About 14 millennia ago, somewhere in Europe and probably simultaneously elsewhere, a unique bond developed between humans and wolves. Provided with scraps of food when approaching the early encampments and settlements of man, the wolf soon became a frequent and welcome visitor, warning man of imminent danger and later assisting him in the hunt for wild animals. Thus, began the domestication of the dog and the establishment of a bond between man and animals that has no equal. Today, man violates that bond by allowing dogs to breed excessively and then abandoning them in great numbers, thus creating hazards for the dogs themselves as well as a considerable health risk to human society. In 1990, Dr K Bogel, chief veterinarian of the World Health Organization (WHO) said: 'All too often, authorities confronted with the problems caused by these dogs have turned to mass destruction in the hope of finding a quick solution, only to discover that the destruction had to continue, year after year, with no end in sight'. New Delhi: Stray dogs at a street at Shalimar Bagh area, in New Delhi, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. (PTI Photo/Shahbaz Khan) (PTI08_11_2025_000447A)(PTI) Albert Einstein described insanity as doing the same thing over and over expecting different results! Moreover, by reducing temporarily the population of free-roaming dogs, the authorities had improved the chances of survival of the remainder and provided fresh opportunities for newly-abandoned dogs. It is now becoming recognised that removal of surplus dogs cannot solve the problem unless combined with other measures such as registration and neutering of dogs and education of the public The Blue Cross of India in Chennai was the first to start sterilisation programmes for street dogs--indeed it was the first to propose such a programme and set up its first free clinic in 1966. Thirty years later in 1996, they were able to convince the Chennai Corporation headed by M Abul Hassan, IAS, regarding the viability of such an approach. We called it the ABC programme to show the authorities that control of the street dog population was as simple as ABC. The Blue Cross of India took up the total funding and was soon joined by People for Animals led by Maneka Gandhi. The Corporation's only expense was to continue to provide the dog-catching staff and vehicles. The number of cases of rabies which had been rising every year and had reached a high of 120 reported cases in 1996 began a steady decline and by 2007 it had dropped to zero. After three successive years of zero rabies, Chennai was declared rabies-free in 2010--the first metropolis in India to achieve this. Jaipur had also reached zero even earlier after starting a similar programme in 1996. Seeing the success of ABC-AR in Chennai and Jaipur, the Government of India's Animal Welfare Board adopted ABC-AR as its policy and recommended the Government to adopt it. Things moved swiftly and Parliament approved the ABC Rules in 2001 which stopped the poisoning or electrocution of street dogs and made ABC mandatory for all local bodies. With increased awareness and vaccination drives, rabies cases dropped by over 95% from WHO's 29,000 in 1996 to about 500 in 2024. Sadly, most municipalities did not implement ABC aggressively to reach the 70% coverage which would have stabilised the population. Sporadic ABC camps will not suffice. Since catching street dogs is the most traumatic part of the programme, many animal welfare groups supported street dog feeders only to get them to befriend the dogs so that they could be easily caught and sterilised and vaccinated. Many feeders, unfortunately, stopped with the feeding part and just began to dump newborn puppies at animal shelters. Armchair critics and keyboard warriors, in the meantime, instead of helping those groups struggling with overloaded shelters and large numbers of sterilisations, just kept using the double-edged sword of social media to find fault with what municipalities and local organisations were doing. The onset of Covid stopped most ABC programmes for well over a year, undoing years of work and virtually bringing everything back to square one. Having said all this, the recent order of the Supreme Court is totally impossible to implement. Putting captured street dogs into massive pounds will lead to massive and unbelievable cruelty. Such an experiment was tried out by a group called EAST in Taipei about 25 years ago. Virtually every dog of the thousands put in died due to infighting and unequal feeding--a clear case of the survival only of the fittest--till infections killed these too. Fortunately, a Buddhist monk who took over the organisation convinced the government to stop this inhuman practice and go in for an ABC programme. The Supreme Court order also goes against the ABC Rules and the orders of another two-judge bench. The order was also passed without giving a chance for other stakeholders to be heard. No municipality has the space or the funds required to run such pounds--euphemistically referred to as shelters. That ABC-AR works is not in doubt. Indeed, in Radford University's Milestones in World Environmental History ( , the ABC programme of the Blue Cross of India is listed as one of the milestones, right after Jane Goodall, in 1959. Let all of hope that better sense prevails and the three-judge bench formed by the Chief Justice of India, following protests from all over the country, puts the onus on all local bodies to fulfil their mandate of properly carrying out aggressive ABC programmes--the only viable solution to this important issue. Just as we have reduced rabies to a minor fraction over the last quarter century, a few years of an aggressive, sustained ABC-AR programme all over the country will ensure this. Let us be very honest about this--urban human population densities and road traffic make life for the dogs on the street difficult, too. But, as the nation that gave the world the word and the concept of ahimsa, and where Section 51(a)(g) of our Constitution requires us to show compassion to all life, we all have the moral obligation to tackle this issue in the most humane way possible. This article is authored by S Chinny Krishna, cofounder, Blue Cross, India's earliest animal protection group.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pakistan PM's 'military retreat speech' is doctored
"Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Khan accepted defeat in Parliament," reads the Hindi-language caption of a clip shared May 10, 2025 on Facebook, misspelling the premier's name and using a popular Pakistani surname. The video apparently shows Sharif telling parliament in Urdu: "We are retreating in the ongoing war with India. Our armed forces are fighting bravely, but lack of resources, political isolation and the power of the enemy has put us in a quandary." Similar posts sharing the clip circulated among Indian users elsewhere on Instagram, Facebook, X and Threads the same day US President Donald Trump unexpectedly announced a ceasefire (archived link). The truce halted four days of intense fighting between the South Asian rivals that killed more than 70 people on both sides (archived link). Fighter jet, missile, drone and artillery strikes erupted two weeks after gunmen killed 26 people on the Indian-run side of disputed Kashmir in an attack New Delhi blamed on Islamabad. Pakistan denies the accusations (archived here and here). The ceasefire has held, but the circulating video does not show a genuine speech from Sharif. A reverse image search on Google using keyframes led to longer footage published May 7 by the Pakistani Urdu-language news channel Samaa TV on YouTube (archived link). "PM Shehbaz Sharif's Aggressive Speech at National Assembly | India Attack Pakistan | Pak Army Alert!" the title says. Sharif commends Pakistan's armed forces, saying they thwarted India's strikes that day -- but nowhere in the video does he make the remarks claimed in the false posts. "With the prayers of 240 million Pakistanis, our brave and valiant Pakistani armed forces gave a befitting reply to the filthy attack by India, turned that dark night into a moonlit night," he said. "In this attack by India many Pakistanis were martyred including children, women and men. Please pray for them." The newspaper Pakistan Today, as well as Indian news websites Hindustan Times and Brut India, also covered Sharif's remarks (archived here, here and here). An analysis of the clip circulating online found several visual inconsistencies suggesting it was doctored. Sharif's lip movements and hand gestures are unnatural, indicating manipulation using artificial intelligence technology. An AFP journalist in Islamabad confirmed the voice and accent is not Sharif's. As of May 16, there had been no official reports of Sharif announcing before Pakistan's parliament that the country was retreating. AFP has debunked a wave of misinformation about the India-Pakistan conflict here.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Patel calls for small cultural complexes for theatre groups
Nagpur: The 100th divisional Marathi Natya Sammelan was inaugurated with grandeur at the Suresh Bhat Auditorium on Friday. The ceremony witnessed the presence of an impressive galaxy of artistes, cultural enthusiasts, and dignitaries. Presiding over the event, renowned filmmaker and theatre personality Dr Jabbar Patel emphasised the need to create small cultural complexes to support theatre groups . "In the last 10 to 15 years, the digital age has brought about major technological changes that have significantly impacted performing arts like drama and dance," Dr Patel observed. "Theatre groups today are struggling financially. To preserve and nurture this magical art form, we must provide them with rehearsal spaces and dedicated venues for performances," he said. Sharing the dais with Patel were acclaimed actor Shahbaz Khan , MLC Abhijit Wanjari, Padma Shri Dr Parshuram Khune, and actors Shalaka Pawar, Sagar Karande, and Bharat Ganeshpure, along with office-bearers of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Parishad, including vice presidents Naresh Gadekar and Bhausahab Bhoir, Executive Officer Ajit Bhure, and others. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Wanjari, speaking at the event, stressed the need for fair remuneration for folk artists and writers, comparing them to our beloved sisters whose well-being should be ensured. Although unable to attend the event due to the tragic incident at Pahalgam, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis conveyed his best wishes through a letter. In his message, read out by Ajay Patil, the chief minister described the centenary Sammelan as a significant milestone that would surely inspire future generations. Actor Shahbaz Khan, known for his roles in popular television serials like Chandrakanta, Tipu Sultan, and Vetal Pachisi, was the star attraction at the event. He rendered the Shiv Tandav Stotra and fondly recalled his childhood and education in Nagpur. "I dreamt all my dreams here. I first acted in a Marathi play titled 'To Mee Navhech' in Nagpur. The city runs through my veins," said an emotional Khan. Traditional arts light up Natya Dindi A vibrant Natya Dindi (theatre parade) marked the formal beginning of the sammelan. Amidst the beats of traditional dhol, tasha, lezim, pink turbans, and colourful rangoli carpets, artistes marched with great enthusiasm. Folk performers representing Vasudev, Potraj, Pingla, Dashavatar, and Gondhal traditions added a rich cultural flavour. The artistic highlight of the sammelan was the inauguration of a special exhibition named after renowned set designer and painter, the late Ganesh Naidu. Titled 'A Hundred Years of Marathi Theatre Heritage', the exhibition featured about 31 paintings by students, amateur and professional artists. The centrepiece of the gallery was a charcoal portrait drawn by Ganesh Naidu at the age of 19.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Time of India
Law student drowns swimming pool at Thergaon
1 2 3 Pune: A 23-year-old law student, Shahbaz Khan, tragically drowned on Sunday around 3:30pm at the Kantilal Khinvasara Narsimha Patil Swimming Pool , a civic facility run by the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) in Thergaon. Shahbaz, a fourth-year student from Hadapsar, was visiting his uncle in Wakad at the time. Wakad Police have registered a case of accidental death. "The post-mortem report confirmed death due to drowning, and the family has no complaint against anyone," a senior police officer told TOI. Shahbaz was the only son of an auto rickshaw driver based in Pune. According to PCMC officials, lifeguards were present when the incident occurred. "Lifeguards at the pool immediately jumped in to rescue the boy and administered CPR. He was rushed to the hospital, but was declared dead on arrival," said a senior PCMC official. Pankaj Patil, deputy municipal commissioner and head of PCMC's sports department, stated, "We take all precautions from our end at the swimming pools run by the municipal corporation. Four lifeguards each are deployed at these pools, and they are always on alert to save people in emergency situations." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The pool had been closed for nearly four years for maintenance and reopened to the public only in February this year. "The deceased visited the pool on Saturday as well. His family said he returned to swim again on Sunday, just after lunch," added Patil. PCMC currently operates 10 functional swimming pools across the city, with three others under maintenance. Daily, monthly bookings and coaching batches are part of their regular operations. Pune: A 23-year-old law student, Shahbaz Khan, tragically drowned on Sunday around 3:30pm at the Kantilal Khinvasara Narsimha Patil Swimming Pool, a civic facility run by the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) in Thergaon. Shahbaz, a fourth-year student from Hadapsar, was visiting his uncle in Wakad at the time. Wakad Police have registered a case of accidental death. "The post-mortem report confirmed death due to drowning, and the family has no complaint against anyone," a senior police officer told TOI. Shahbaz was the only son of an auto rickshaw driver based in Pune. According to PCMC officials, lifeguards were present when the incident occurred. "Lifeguards at the pool immediately jumped in to rescue the boy and administered CPR. He was rushed to the hospital, but was declared dead on arrival," said a senior PCMC official. Pankaj Patil, deputy municipal commissioner and head of PCMC's sports department, stated, "We take all precautions from our end at the swimming pools run by the municipal corporation. Four lifeguards each are deployed at these pools, and they are always on alert to save people in emergency situations." The pool had been closed for nearly four years for maintenance and reopened to the public only in February this year. "The deceased visited the pool on Saturday as well. His family said he returned to swim again on Sunday, just after lunch," added Patil. PCMC currently operates 10 functional swimming pools across the city, with three others under maintenance. Daily, monthly bookings and coaching batches are part of their regular operations.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Creativity 2030 - 4th International Forum Successfully Held in Beijing
A news report from CRI Online: BEIJING, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Creativity 2030 - 4th International Forum was successfully held in Beijing, focusing on cultural diversity and sustainable development. The event was hosted by the International Centre for Creativity and Sustainable Development (ICCSD) under the auspices of UNESCO, under the supervision of the Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission and the Administrative Commission of Zhongguancun Science Park. Around 150 representatives from 10 countries including Austria, France and Germany attended the forum. Key speakers included Shahbaz Khan, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, and Ge Siying, Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO. The forum marked the 20th anniversary of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of Cultural Diversity of UNESCO, featuring discussions on digitalization and cultural preservation. A major highlight was the focus on the integration of culture and technologies in the science fiction industry, with Beijing's growing sci-fi sector generating an annual revenue of CNY 48 billion. Experts from institutions such as Ars Electronica Linz, the Beijing Film Academy, and Tsinghua University explored the roles of digital innovation, AI, and metaverse in cultural storytelling. During the forum, 20 exemplary cases of digital technologies supporting cultural diversity were released, with discussions held on cultural and technological projects leveraging industrial heritage. The forum is viewed as successful in facilitating international cooperation. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE CRIOnline
