SMT. MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI Born: 26 August 1956

HIGHLIGHTS

Mrs Maneka Sanjay Gandhi has singlehandedly created the climate for in India. From making her first animal shelter in the country in 1980 to assisting thousands of other animal shelters to be set up, Mrs Gandhi has changed the lives of millions of animals. The anti-rabies program initiated by her has resulted in many cities becoming rabies free, while she banned the killing of dogs as a traditional method of controlling their population. Her ambulances and hospitals save over 5000 animals each day. She is the Founder and Chairperson of People for Animals, a nationwide entity today.

People for Animals has become a brand that is recognized for effective action. She has ceaselessly toured from city to city and school to school to educate children, corporators, police academies, lawyers, Resident Welfare Associations and social clubs on the laws and the rationale behind animal welfare. She is consulted by most city municipalities on animal management. She gets over 200 emails a day asking for help in animal issues and she responds to all. Her Law Book is taught in Universities and is used as the only guide for courts on the subject of animal welfare. She has prepared meticulously for 40 years, the intellectual and physical framework for animal welfare in India.

Creating environmental awareness and initiating various legislations to reform India’s movement, from illegal , to the trade, promoting , banning animal symbols in electoral politics, stopping in Indian films, banning mini and mobile zoos, ending bull fighting in Goa, ending the slavery of the dancing bears, stopping barbaric , stopping cattle smuggling across the Indo Nepal border, stopping camel ‘joyrides’ on beaches , stopping shark fin export and whale shark killing and establishing animal hospitals and shelters, Mrs Gandhi has been an inspiration for millions of Indians and has permanently changed the way animals are treated by the people and by the Government.

ACHIEVEMENTSNIN THE FIELD OF ANIMAL WELFARE AND ENVIRONMENT

 Founder and Chairperson of People For Animals (PFA), India 's largest animal welfare organization with 250,000 members, it runs 34 charitable veterinary hospitals and 60 veterinary ambulances throughout India. It runs India’s only wildlife hospital in Bangalore, a specialised monkey shelter in Haryana and Charitable Hospitals that run the Animal Birth Control Programme for stray dogs and cats. PFA field teams regularly catch poachers and traders in wild animal parts and cattle smugglers. PFA is the biggest lobbying group for animal welfare policies both at the centre and the state level.

 Managing Trustee of the Ruth Cowell Foundation which runs the Sanjay Gandhi Animal Care Centre (SGACC) in New Delhi, the largest charitable animal welfare facility in Asia. SGACC was built by Mrs Gandhi with all the resources that her late husband left her with (he died when she was 23 leaving her a three-month-old baby son), and provides shelter and veterinary care to over 5,000 animals every day. Sanjay Gandhi Animal Care Centre takes in and treats sick and stray animals from all over New Delhi and adjoining states and runs a free 24-hour ambulance service to rescue sick and injured animals. It conducts a sterilisation and inoculation programme for street animals.

 Formed and headed the Committee on the Control and Supervision of Experiment on Animals constituted under the Ministry of Environment and Forests. From 1996 to 2002, Mrs Gandhi completely transformed the lives of billions of lab animals by bringing in strict regulations for their use and to prevent their misuse.

 As Chairperson of the Committee for Control and supervision of Experiments on Animals, she made optional instead of mandatory for drug and cosmetic companies. Created the Regulatory Committee to regulate the use of animals for medical tests and eliminate duplicative testing.

 Lobbied to remove dissection from the syllabi of Pharmacy Colleges, Dental Colleges, Medical Colleges and in Zoology courses. She got testing on animals for cosmetic products banned in India. And further, even the import of cosmetics, tested on animals was also banned due to Mrs Gandhi’s constant lobbying.

 Judicial Activism: Successfully initiated Public Interest Litigations in the Supreme Court of India to protect animals, which have been responsible for path-breaking judgements on: o Stopping inhumane and unhealthy slaughter practices in the capital's and introducing radical reforms. This was the first case of its kind in India. o Banning travelling zoos / mini zoos throughout India. o Preventing smuggling of cattle through the Indo Nepal border.

Landmark judgements from the High Court’s include:

 Obtained an order from the Maharashtra High Court banning camels from being used for entertainment on beaches.

 Obtaining an order from the Maharashtra High Court banning the use of horses for pulling chariots in Mumbai.

 Obtained an order from the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court banning bull fights (fights between bulls) in Goa.

 Obtained an order from the Nainital High Court banning ritual sacrifice of animals and consequently, more than 500 temples where over 5 lakh animals were slaughtered every year, had to stop completely.

 Obtained an order from the Nainital High Court to initiate an Animal Birth Control Programme for dogs across the state in a time bound manner.

 Obtained an order from the Nainital High Court for the Government to implement a detailed programme for wildlife conservation including appointment of veterinarians at the Corbett National Park, where earlier there were none.

 Campaigned for and obtained an order from the Election Commission of India banning the use of animal symbols to prevent the exploitation of animals during campaigning.

 Obtained an order from the High Court banning airguns from open sale.

 Lobbied for and obtained an order from the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir to ban the trade of Shahtoosh wool which is derived by killing an endangered Himalayan antelope.

 Obtained an order from High Court labelling cosmetics as vegetarian and non- vegetarian.

 Obtained an order as Chairperson People for Animals from the Delhi High Court to make dissection optional in the school biology syllabus. Later, as Minister, had dissection in schools banned altogether.

 Lobbied for the notification of stricter Rules for transport of farm animals under the Motor Vehicles Act. The new Rules now have heavy penal provisions and mandatory partitions which will ensure that animals travel without being tortured due to overcrowding. The Rules also make the comprehensive BIS standards for animal transport mandatory which are based on OIE Guidelines.

 Lobbied to ban the unnecessary euthanasia of retired dogs and horses by the Indian Army. The animals will now be kept in Government funded Geriatric centers till the natural end of their lives.

 Lobbied for the ban on the export of Shark fins. India was earlier the second largest exporter of find in the world. More than 50,000 sharks were killed every year in Indian waters only for the export of their fins. It is now banned.

 Lobbied to allow Members of Parliament to give animal ambulances in their constituencies out of the Local Area Development Fund.

 Headed a Delhi State Govt Committee to evolve solutions for the city's stray cattle. This resulted in 10 cattle shelters being opened by non- governmental organizations on land allotted by the Government.

 Stopped the import of live wild animals for exhibition or slaughter like ostriches and dolphins.

 Conceived and promoted the campaign to plant industry-sponsored trees in Delhi.

 Campaigned for Food Standard Regulations for Animal Fodder and the abolition of pesticides. Initiated the first conference held in India on Poison in Milk attended by policy makers and scientists.

 Ex Chairperson of the Delhi SPCA which is the first SPCA in India with an inspectorate. The Delhi SPCA confronts cruelty in domestic, commercial as well as social scenarios.

 Patron-for-Life of Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA), an animal welfare society of Bangalore, which runs the biggest charitable animal hospital in Bangalore, India.

 Founder and Patron of Greenline, a unique agency that facilitates local industry to sponsor urban tree plantation.

HIGHLIGHTS AS MINISTER FOR ANIMAL WELFARE

 Created the Animal Welfare Ministry, the first of its kind in the world.

 Re-designed training programmes for animal welfare. Set up funding schemes to enable animal welfare organizations to establish animal shelters and animal ambulance services.

 Conceived and initiated an Institution that will impart training and award professional degrees in animal welfare called the National Institute for Animals Welfare. This institute stands as the only one of its kind in the country.

 Developed and initiated a product labelling scheme whereby all consumer products will now be identified as vegetarian and non-vegetarian based upon their ingredients.

 Notified wild animals that may not be trained or exhibited at all. Stopped animal usage for entertainment in circuses and created sanctuaries for rescued animals. All bears, leopards, monkeys, lions and tigers were shifted from circuses to rescue centers one the ban was brought into force. Hundreds of Himalayan black bear used for begging purposes by poachers and professional smugglers were also confiscated and rehabilitated in sanctuaries where there live, even to this day.

 Stopped the Municipal killing of dogs, replacing it with a sterilisation and immunisation programme instead.

 Initiated measures to check cruelty to animals during shooting of Indian films. Placed animal welfare officials on the Indian Board of Censors.

HIGHLIGHTS AS MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS

 Initiated and piloted legislation in the Parliament of India on the Wildlife Protection Act.  Negotiated the Montreal Protocol on behalf of the Government of India.  Set standards for Environmental Pollution.  Conceptualised and designed the Environmental Tribunals of India.  Designed the Comparative Testing Scheme for Eco-friendly products called ECOMARK.  Notified coastal areas as Protected Zones with no buildings within 500 metres of the shoreline.  Created the National Zoo Authority to oversee and regulate the hundreds of zoos in the country  Set up the Animal Welfare Board of India and an Animal Welfare Division in the Environment Ministry which is now the apex Government body for animal welfare.  Stopped wild animal use in circuses  Here are some of her achievements in the last five years: 1. Cosmetic Testing Ban 2. Import of Tested Cosmetics Ban 3. of Pigs Ban 4. Export of Shark Fin Ban 5. Import of Foie Gras Ban 6. Export of Animals for Gadhimai (a large animal sacrifice done every four years in Nepal) Ban 7. Camel Protection Act Rajasthan & Declaration of Camel as State Animal 8. "Meat on the Hoof" Ban 9. Killing of retired Army Dogs and Horses Ban 10. Import of Seal Leather/ Products Ban. 11. Amendment to the Broadcasting Code to regulate depiction of animals. 12. Testing of Household Products on Animals Ban 13. Schedule Y of Drugs and Cosmetics Act Amended to harmonise it with IUCN Guidelines 14. Dog Import ban 15. Silver Foil to be made by machine instead of cattle intestines 16. Import of Wildlife Skins Ban. 17. Arms Act Amended to regulate air guns 18. Ban on Animal Sacrifice in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand 19. Amendment in Motor Vehicles Act to regulate transport 20. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shops) Rules, 2018 21. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding & Marketing) Rules, 2017 22. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Livestock Market) Rules, 2017 23. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Care and Maintenance of Case Property Animals) Rules, 2017 24. Center at NALSAR University of Law 25. Animal Law Center at National Law School of India University, Bangalore 26. Bar Council of India introduced Animal Law in syllabus 27. Training of Judicial Magistrates in National & State Judicial Academies 28. Training of Police Personnel in 8 States 29. Training of Wildlife Veterinarian Doctors in Uttarakhand 30. Syllabus of Veterinary Colleges Updated through VCI 31. Dissection removed in Zoology through UGC 32. Removal of all Private Captive Elephants from Uttarakhand and Delhi 33. Ghazipur Murga Mandi, Delhi Slaughter ban 34. Sonepur Mela Wildlife Trade Shutdown 35. Animal Birth Control Program in Uttarakhand set up as a replicable model 36. Collaboration with Central Food Technological Research Institute & Centre for Cellular Molecular Biology for Clean Meat 37. Setting up of Centre for Excellence for Clean Meat with ICT and Good Dot in Jalan 38. 15 National & Private Banks issued circulars to stop loans to set up farms for poultry birds 39. Equine Rescue Centre at Uttarakhand, Chhatisgarh and Bihar 40. National Institute of Animal Welfare handed over to Lala Lajpat Rai University for Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar 41. Ban on opening new Battery Cages for Egg-laying Hens anywhere in India 42. Pesticide testing on animals reduced as per OECD Guidelines 43. Indian Centre for Excellence in Human Pathway at National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research, Hyderabad 44. Amendment in Municipal Corporation Act Uttar Pradesh to remove construction of slaughterhouses 45. Outstanding Achievement Protection Award in 2018 given to PFA in United States 46. Stopping dogs and horses from being killed after use in the army and police

Work in Progress in Courts Across India:

1. Regulation of housing and transport of egg laying hens and broilers 2. Regulation of housing and disposal of dairy animals 3. Regulation of use of equines in high altitude states 4. Establishment of State Animal Welfare Boards and SPCAs in each District 5. Establishment of animal birth control for street dogs 6. Establishment of Wildlife Rescue Centers 7. Regulation to prevent abuse of animals for cultural events 8. Sustainable solution for man animal conflict with rhesus macaque 9. Regulation of Zoos in India 10. Regulation of slaughterhouses 11. Enforcement of Regulation for dog breeders 12. Enforcement of Regulation for pet shops 13. Prevention of non-therapeutic use of oxytocin on dairy animals 14. Prevention of use of wire (Manja) for kite flying) 15. Establishment of rescue centres for street animals in every city 16. Enforcement of regulation for preventing harassment of pet owners 17. Prevention of use of animals for circuses 18. Prevention of industrial aquaculture 19. Introduction of clean meat in the Indian market 20. Promotion of plant based processed food as a replacement for animal meat.

MEDIA

 Author of over 20 books on plants, environment, vegetarianism, animals and etymology including: o Animal Laws of India (Universal Law Publishing Company). The only compilation of all the animal protection laws of India. Used by judges, lawyers, police and activists. Now in its 4th Edition and taught in 112 law schools. o Brahma's Hair - A Mythology of Indian Plants (Rupa). Little known stories from Hindu mythology that bring alive the cultural romance of our plants. o Heads and Tails - a collection of writings on animal welfare (The Other India Press). Now in its 14th edition. o First Aid for Animals – the only book of its kind in India. (Sterling Publishers Pvt Ltd) o Natural Health for Your Dog (Sterling Publishers). o Wise and Wonderful Animal Alphabet Quiz book (Rupa Publishers). o Several Quiz books on animals published by Rupa and Penguin. o Shelter Making and Management o 37 Mini books written for the Animal Welfare Board of India on all issues concerning animals that welfarists might need to use. o Gaushala: the only management manual for gaushalas in the world

 The only syndicated columnist in India on animal welfare issues with a widely read weekly column published in 28 national and several international newspapers and magazines in Nepal and Sri Lanka. This column has been there for over 25.0 years

 Weekly Q&A animal column in several newspapers which resulted in thousands of animal adoptions.

 Creator and presenter of the TV series "New Horizons", promoting environmentally sound alternatives which went on for two years.

 Initiator and sponsor of the first animal cruelty film to be shown on National Television.

 Creator, Writer and Presenter of India 's only weekly show "Heads & Tails" on animal rights and welfare on National Television which went on for 5 years. The information packed series have been a source of inspiration of generations of animal rights activists and advocates.

 Producer, writer and presenter of the weekly animal welfare programme Maneka’s Ark on Star Television and later on National Television. The programmes “Heads and Tails” and Maneka’s Ark have created awareness on animal welfare all over the country.

 Weekly radio programme on animal-related issues on Times FM and Government radio.

NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL BOARDS

 Euro solar, Germany.

 Wuppertal Institute, Germany.

 Chairperson of Rugmark, a non-governmental agency that works to rehabilitate child labour in the carpet industry. Runs 5 schools and rescue centres for over 16,000 children so far in Varanasi/Bhadoi

 Member of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Sasakawa Environment Prize Selection Committee – from July 2001-2006, Geneva, Switzerland

 Special Invitee to Peace in Peacetime, International Conference on Peace and Development, Puerto Rico, 2002

 Chairperson of International Energy Globe Foundation & Chairperson International Energy Globe Jury, Austria till date.

AWARDS

 Lord Erskine Award (1992) by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, UK, the premier international award in the field of animal welfare.

 Recipient of the 1995 Vegetarian of the Year Award from the Vegetarian Society.

 More than 30 other National Awards for work on Animal Welfare and Environment including: o Maharana Udai Singh Award 1996-97 for distinguished services in the field of Environment by Maharana Mewar Foundation, City Palace, Udaipur. o Prani Mitra Award (1997) by The Animal Welfare Board of India. India’s highest animal welfare honour bestowed after a gap of 30 years. o The Marchig Prize (1997) by Marchig Animal Welfare Trust, Switzerland, in recognition of outstanding contribution in the field of animal welfare. o Venu Menon Life Time Achievement Award (1999) by Venu Menon Animal Allies Foundation, in recognition of outstanding contribution to animal welfare. o Mahaveer Award (1999) by Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation, for "Excellence in Human Endeavour in the sphere of Truth, Non-Violence & Vegetarianism.

and Sadbhavanan Award (1999) for remarkable contribution in promoting non-violence, Vegetarianism and animal rights.

 Diwaliben Award (1999) by Diwaliben Mohanlal Mehta Charitable Trust for outstanding contribution to the cause of vegetarianism and .

 Woman of the Year Award (2001) by International Women's Association, Chennai.

 Aadishakti Puruskar (2001) by Dina Nath Mangeshkar Pratishthan for remarkable contribution in the field of Environment and Animal Welfare.

 Person of the Year 2006 by Rotary International

 FOSAAC Award in Los Angeles for humanitarian services

 Supreme Master Ching Hai The Shining World Compassion Award 2010

 LUSH Award in 2017 given to People For Animals in London

 Awarded the award for Animal Activism for 2020 in Berlin