The Animal Welfare Board of India was set up in 1962 with its headquarter at Madras, under the provisions of the “Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. 1960” (PCA Act. 1960). The Board consists of 28 members representing Govt. of India, the veterinary profession, municipal bodies, practitioners of modern and indigenous systems of medicine, Animal welfare Organizations of the country and humanitarians. Two members of Rajya Sabha and 4 members of Lok Sabha are on the Board. It is an autonomous body working under the administrative control of the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Main functions of the Board are:

• To keep the law in force in India for the prevention of Cruelty to animals under constant study and advise the Government on the amendments to be undertaken in any such law from time to time.
• To advise the central Government on the making of rules under this Act with a view to prevent unnecessary pain or suffering to animals generally, and more particularly when they are being transported from one place to another or when they are used as performing animals or when they are kept in captivity or confinement.
• To advise the Government or any local authority or other persons on improvements in the design of vehicles so as to lessen the burden on draught animals
• To take all such steps as the board may think fit for amelioration of animals by encouraging or providing for the construction of sheds, water troughs and the like and by providing for veterinary assistance to animals.
• To advise the Government or any local authority or other persons in the design of slaughter-houses or in connection with slaughter of animals so that unnecessary pain of suffering whether physical or mental is eliminated in the pre-slaughter stages so far as possible, and animals are killed wherever necessary, in as humane a manner as possible.
• To take all such steps as the board may think fit to ensure that unwanted animals are destroyed by local authorities, whenever it is necessary to do so, either instantaneously or after being rendered insensible to pain or suffering.
• To encourage by the grant of financial assistance or otherwise, the formation or establishment of pinjrapoles, rescue homes, animals shelters sanctuaries, and the like where animals and birds may find a shelter when they have become old and useless or when they need protection.
• To co-operate with, and co-ordinate the work of associations or bodies established for the purpose of preventing unnecessary pain or suffering to animals or for the protection of animals and birds.
• To give financial and other assistance to animal welfare organizations functioning in any local area or to encourage the formation of animal welfare organizations in any local area which shall work under the general supervision and guidance of the board
• To advise the Government on matters relating to the medical care and attention, which may be provided in animal hospitals, and to give financial and other assistance to animal hospitals whenever the board thinks it necessary to do so.
• To impart education in relation to the humane treatment of animals and to encourage the formation of public opinion against the infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering to animals and for the promotion of animal welfare by means of lectures, books, posters, cinematographic exhibitions and the like and;
• To advise the government or any matter connected with animal welfare or the prevention of infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering of animals.

Animal Welfare Board of India
(Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India)
                      Post Box No-8672
13/1, Third Seaward Road, Valmiki Nagar,
Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai- 600 041.
email: awbi@md3.vsnl.net.in, website: www.awbi.org