A Survey - An eye opener
Cruelty on animals
Share any information about ill treatment of animals in your locality.
A survey - An eye opener
In order to have an idea about the thinking common people have about animals and their rights, a survey was carried out by the Project team in the locality. The subjects were people including few truck drivers coming from different parts of the region to transport fertilizer from the factory situated in Namrup. This group was selected because these truck drivers are less educated and notorious for their lack of sensitivity resulting from the harsh life they are forced to live. Altogether 10 people were interviewed at random. The survey revolved around two main questions related to animals;
While they are driving at high speed, if an animal (dog, cow, deer etc) comes in front of his truck, what will be his reaction?
If an animal is injured as a result of collision with or run over by his vehicle but has a fair chance of survival with little care, what he will do?
The result was astonishing. To the first question, each and every driver said without hesitation that they will try to save the animal by applying brake veering the vehicle. To the second question, while the older ones (above 35 years and driving experience of more than 5 years) said that if the animal involved was a domesticated animal, they would flee the spot to avoid public ire, the younger ones responded that they would take care of the animal by giving it water, applying medicine available with them and if there were people around, would request them for help. The survey yet again vindicates the notion that not everything is lost between man and animal. The results are depicted below:
CISF Personnel
Name: Ashish Kr. Sinha
Age: 26
Qualification: Graduate
Q: Do you love animals?
A: Of course, I do.
Q: Do you have any pet or do you plan to keep in near future?
A: I don’t have now, but I am going to keep a dog as my pet in near future.
Q: Has any animal been hurt by your vehicle, in spite of your careful driving?
A: No, never.
Q: If such a situation comes, what would you do?
A: I would try to provide proper medication and hand it over to the owner.
Q: What are the conditions of animals in this area?
A: There are some cases in which domestic animals are given pain. There are atrocities to cattle for milk. Further, aged animals left as stray or sold to butchers.
Q: What is the present situation of wild animals in the world?A: Rapid deforestation is going on and hence many wild animals lost their habitats. So, they move to human habitats in search of food or shelter. Many of them became extinct.
Q: What can the government do for these animals?
A: Forest departments are sole responsible. They should give education to the people. Various local awareness programmes can be started to save the life of these animals. After all, animals also have feelings.
House-wife
Name: Mrs. Shubra Dutta
Age: 49
Educational Qualification: Pre-University
Q: Madam, do you have any pet?
A: Oh no! I don’t have any pet.
Q: Why not, Madam? Is there any specific reason?
A: I find it very difficult to keep them. They create a very unhygienic condition in the household.
Q: Have you ever encountered any problems from stray animals?
A: As such if it is not there!! But I am scared of dog bites and the road accidents due to them trouble me a lot…
Q: Do you have any say to say on preservation of wildlife?
A: Of course, I also realize that animals are a part and parcel of man’s need for survival. So we should see that the house of animal kingdom is fully protected for which deforestation must be stopped. Government has to take suitable measures in this regard.
Truck Driver(1)
Name: Pyarelal Yadav
Age:28
Qualification: Class V
Route: Namrup - Tinsukia
Q:Do you face problems due to the stray animals on road?
A: Yes, mostly cows sit on the roads and don’t easily go away. The highways get ruined.
Q:If despite all your efforts, you happen to cause an accident to an animal, what would you do?
A: It would be very sad. If it so happens, I must see that proper care is taken for treatment of the injured, if not fatal.
Q: Approximately how many animals have been killed because of your driving?
A: It is very difficult to give the approximate count but it has been near about seven severely injured ones.
Q: Who do you think are responsible for the strolling of stray animals?
A: The owners themselves are responsible. They must take proper care of their domestic animals to avoid any accidental loss.
Q: Is there anything the government can do?
A: In regards to wild animals, deforestation is the major cause for which government as well as public is equally responsible.
Truck Driver (2)
Name: Bangshidhar Gurum
Age: 28
Qualification: Class X
Route: Namrup – Golaghat
Driving experience: 10 years
Q: Do the stray animals on the road trouble you?
A: Yes, they often do.
Q: Approximately how many animals have been killed because of your driving?
A: Till date nothing of such sort occurred.
Q: If you happen to hit an animal with your truck, what would you do?
A: You know there is common principle of the drivers to avoid any further damage to the situation when an accident occurs. Taking care of the injured ones is our prime objective, but protecting the situation from further deterioration due to public excitement is our supreme objective.
Q: Don’t you think someone must take action on such animals? If yes, who?
A: Actually, most of the animals like cows, goats etc. which are fond on the roads are usually domestic. The owners must take them to graze on the fields instead of the roadside grasses.
Q: What do you think is the role of the government?
A: I don’t think the government has any role unless the public is conscious.