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A major controversy has erupted surrounding the renowned <keyword id="23237741" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tirupati-laddu" source="keywords">Tirupati laddu</keyword>, a sacred offering from the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh, after allegations surfaced about the use of animal fat in its preparation. The ruling Telugu Desam Party (<keyword id="19910623" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="TDP" source="keywords">TDP</keyword>) has accused the previous <keyword id="19973324" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="YSR-Congress-Party" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="YSR Congress Party" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="YSR Congress Party">YSR Congress Party</keyword> (YSRCP)-led government of adulterating the prasadam, a claim that has sent shockwaves through the Hindu community. <h2>The allegations</h2>The controversy began when TDP leader Nara Lokesh, son of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. <keyword id="19926151" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chandrababu-Naidu" source="keywords">Chandrababu Naidu</keyword>, raised accusations against the former YSRCP government, led by Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. Lokesh alleged that during YSRCP's tenure (2019–2024), the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) used adulterated ingredients, including animal fat, in the preparation of the sacred Tirupati laddu. He stated, "The previous government maintained Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) solely for their own and their partners' welfare. We exposed substandard Tirumala laddu production using animal fat, supported by lab reports." Lokesh further emphasised that the TDP government has since taken corrective steps by appointing a new Executive Officer (EO) to manage TTD, ensuring that quality standards are upheld. "CM Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to maintain the quality of prasadam. The NDA government will bring new reforms to TTD and restore its past glory," he added. <h2>Lab report confirms presence of animal fat</h2>TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy shared findings from a Gujarat-based lab, NDDB CALF Ltd, which allegedly confirmed the use of <keyword id="23237743" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="beef-tallow" source="keywords">beef tallow</keyword>, lard (pig fat), and fish oil in the ghee samples provided by TTD during the YSRCP regime. The samples, collected in July 2024, were reportedly found to contain these animal-derived fats instead of pure cow ghee, sparking outrage among devotees. "The lab reports certify that beef tallow, animal fat, lard, and fish oil were used in the preparation of ghee, which was supplied to Tirumala. This is an affront to the Hindu religion," Reddy stated. <h2>Political reactions and condemnations</h2>The allegations have stirred strong reactions across political lines. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu described the alleged adulteration as a grave insult to the religious sentiments of millions of Hindus. "Even Tirumala laddu was made with substandard ingredients... they used animal fat instead of ghee," he said while addressing the NDA legislature party meeting. Naidu’s son, Nara Lokesh, also took to social media to express his shock and condemnation, tweeting, "The Lord Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Tirumala is our most sacred temple. I am shocked to learn that the YSJagan administration used animal fat instead of ghee in the Tirupati Prasadam." On the other hand, Bhanuprakash Reddy, a former TTD Board Member and BJP leader, strongly condemned the use of animal fat in the revered prasadam and said that they would file a formal complaint against Jagan Mohan Reddy and other officials involved. "During Jagan Mohan Reddy's tenure, TTD used pure cow ghee to prepare laddu. Unfortunately, that was adulterated with vegetable oil and animal fat. This is a very bad thing that happened in the history of Tirumala. We are very sad, and we condemn the issue," Bhanuprakash told ANI. The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has also demanded swift action against those responsible, with its national spokesperson, Vinod Bansal, calling the allegations a "serious issue" and asserting, "Punish those who used animal fat in Tirupati laddu prasadam." <h2>YSR Congress Party denies allegations</h2>Despite the lab reports and mounting political pressure, the YSRCP has vehemently denied the allegations. Senior party leader and former TTD chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy termed the claims "malicious" and accused the TDP of fabricating the issue for political gains. "TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu will stoop to any level for political gains. These allegations are nothing but an attempt to tarnish the previous government's image," Reddy said. While the TDP continues to push for accountability, the YSRCP remains firm in its stance, dismissing the claims as baseless. Amid the escalating controversy, K. Laxman, President of BJP OBC Morcha, has called for legal action, stating that the Hindu community’s sentiments have been deeply hurt. "The entire Hindu community all over the world condemns the action of the then government. We demand the present Chandrababu-led NDA government take firm legal action against the officials and persons concerned," Laxman asserted. As the scandal unfolds, devotees and political leaders alike await further clarity on the veracity of the lab reports and the actions that will be taken against those involved. For now, the TDP government has reassured devotees that pure cow ghee is once again being used in the preparation of the Tirupati laddu, a move aimed at restoring trust in the <keyword id="23244487" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sacred-prasadam" source="keywords">sacred prasadam</keyword>. (With inputs from agencies)

Tirupati laddu controversy: Gujarat lab confirms presence of various animal fats in the sacred prasadam — here’s all we know

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Wendy Diamond said she has always been an entrepreneur at heart since she was a child.</li><li>She has since built major advocacy organizations for animal welfare and women in business.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Wendy Diamond, the founder of Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization and Animal Fair Media. It has been edited for length and clarity.I was always an entrepreneur. In second grade, I was selling bubblegum and pencils.I think what forced me into becoming an entrepreneur is I was really never good at school. When I graduated, no one told me I had to network. I sent out a hundred resumes, and no one offered me a job. That pushed me to become an entrepreneur. When you think about everything in life as a positive, you're going to realize that an obstacle taught you something to take you where you're supposed to be.My dog Lucky was the inspiration for me to create <a href="https://animalfair.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Animal Fair</a> when nobody was talking about adoption or rescue. I created the first media company to bring celebrities and pop culture to the animal rescue world. If everyone learned you could adopt versus buy, and you could adopt any breed, any size, any age, people would choose to adopt. We had all these celebrities on our covers, like Renée Zellweger and Beyoncé, each with their dogs, bringing awareness to the importance of adoption. Now, if I don't bring my dog somewhere when I'm at a serious event with very important people, someone will come up to me and say, "Where's your dog?" It's so funny. I always tell people I have the spirit of a 20-year-old and the mind of a 90-year-old. I credit all my dogs for just helping me through everything and keeping me sane, normal, and happy.<h2>How a stalker changed everything for me</h2>My whole life has been happenstance.In 2011, I had a stalker who ruined my entire life in the animal rescue world. She created anonymous email addresses to defame me. She stalked me. That lasted for five years. At the time, I was on a lot of network TV shows, and all they wanted to talk about was the drama. I didn't want to be public anymore. I had millions of followers. I was on the Today Show and CBS as the pet person. I never got into it to be famous or to be in the media. I did it to support animal rescue and to bring awareness to the millions of animals euthanized. During that time, I was so busy. I was taking care of my father, and when he died, I made a commitment to go to two new countries every year. I went to Honduras on a journey that literally changed my entire life. I stayed at a boutique hotel in the jungle, and I asked the hotel manager what there was to do in the area besides bird watching. He suggested I visit a local organization that provided micro-loans to impoverished women to start their own businesses. It was 2013, and nobody was talking about women entrepreneurs or women in business. I was supposed to spend a couple of hours there, but I spent days there and met with all the women entrepreneurs in the community. One woman sticks out in my mind: a 72-year-old woman who had three little kids. Her daughter died, and the husband ran off, so she was responsible for three little grandchildren. She got a microloan, opened up her one-room window in her hut with the dirt floor, and sold Cokes and toothpaste from where she was living with her grandchildren. That enabled her to pay a dollar a month for those kids to go to school.<h2>Helping others help others</h2>When women earn money, 90% of it goes to educate their children and provide for their families, which uplifts the entire community. When women are empowered in business, they have self-confidence and dignity. They don't allow human rights violations. At that time in 2013, only 1% of venture dollars went toward women founders, and I think less than 20% of boards at that time had women on them.I'm very creative in that I realize everybody in the world wants to help. You just have to make it easy for them. When I brought pop culture into the animal rescue world with Animal Fair, we were able to show why it's so great to adopt. I thought the same thing about the women's movement. If I create a day, we'll create the conversation.That's when I went to, at the time, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio, and we officially got Women's Entrepreneurship Day proclaimed an official day on November 19. Then, we launched at the United Nations in 2014, and bigger companies like JP Morgan, Dell, and MasterCard came in. That's where you start to see companies having women's movements and summits by building that awareness of the importance of empowering women in business.Don't get me wrong, we're a capitalist society. Giving a hand up — not a handout — is important. You also have to have perseverance because you're going to go through rough encounters. It's always about the purpose. When things got rough, and believe me, things get rough, all I could think about was that 72-year-old woman with those three little kids selling Cokes and toothpaste and living in a one-room hut with a dirt floor. I don't have problems.

I created major advocacy organizations for women's entrepreneurship and animal welfare. This is how I did it.

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12242577" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="carl-icahn" source="Orion">Carl Icahn</keyword> is slamming <keyword id="11916300" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mcdonalds" source="Orion">McDonald's</keyword> for the continued use of gestation crates for pregnant <keyword id="12077442" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="pigs" source="Orion">pigs</keyword>.</li><li>The billionaire investor has been advocating on the subject for years.</li></ul>Billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn has penned a letter to McDonald's shareholders slamming the fast-food giant for having "impugned its credibility" by failing to "eliminate usage of cruel gestation crates in its supply chain."His eight-page open letter, released on Thursday, blasts McDonald's, saying the company has not lived up to its commitment to end the controversial practice of confining pregnant pigs in cramped spaces. McDonald's first agreed in 2012 to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-pork-pig-crates-2012-2">eliminate</a> gestation crates, which have been widely criticized as inhumane devices, over a <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2012/05/31/1103959/0/en/McDonald-s-USA-Outlines-10-Year-Plan-for-Ending-Gestation-Stall-Use.html">10-year period</a>.In February, Icahn threatened to kick off a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-carl-icahn-pregnant-pigs-gestation-crates-2022-2">shareholder fight</a> over the subject. By <a href="https://carlicahn.com/carl-c-icahn-files-definitive-proxy-statement-and-issues-open-letter-to-shareholders-of-mcdonalds-corporation/">releasing Thursday's letter and proxy statement</a>, in which he nominated new board members, Icahn has followed through on that promise."They are patting themselves on the back, while condoning cruelty – apparently, blind to the writing on the wall," Icahn wrote. "I believe the obscene cruelty inflicted on these animals through confinement is completely needless, reprehensible and misaligned with what Americans expect from our country's No. 1 fast-food chain."In addition to McDonald's, Icahn also raked "large number of Wall Street firms and their bankers and lawyers," "Big Meat," and the meat industry's "connected lobby" over the coals, saying they espouse "hollow" environmental, social, and governance agendas.The investor wrote that McDonald's is "misleading customers, employees, and shareholders" by claiming that the company expects to "source 85% to 90%" of its US pork "from sows not housed in gestation crates during pregnancy.""But that assertion is a cynical fabrication intended to fool us into believing this egregious form of <keyword id="12004919" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="animal-abuse" source="Orion">animal abuse</keyword> in McDonald's' supply chain is largely not occurring," Icahn wrote. "In reality, these sows, who have multiple litters of piglets each year, are confined in gestation crates during each pregnancy for approximately four to six weeks, 24 hours a day, seven days a week."The billionaire wrote that he is calling on McDonald's to cease acting in an "irresponsible and reprehensible manner" and "commit to eliminating gestation crates (zero days in stalls) from its supply chain by the end of 2023" and to expand that goal to its "global supply chain by 2024." He also demanded that the company add new directors to its board.McDonald's did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.While the pork industry has defended gestation crates as a necessary measure to boost productivity and prevent the pigs from fighting, animal welfare activists have disagreed. In a 2013 <a href="https://www.humanesociety.org/sites/default/files/docs/hsus-report-gestation-crates-for-pregnant-sows.pdf">report</a>, the Humane Society of the United States stated that these crates take "a psychological toll and impairs" the welfare of pigs. In his latest letter, Icahn wrote that the crates also impede the animals' "tremendous maternal instinct" and ability to "bond with their babies." He first became aware of the issue through his daughter Michelle, a vegetarian who has worked with the Humane Society.This isn't the first time that McDonald's has come under fire on animal-welfare grounds. In 2015, McDonald's had to drop a Tennessee supplier where workers were <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/r-mcdonalds-tyson-foods-drop-farm-after-videotape-shows-animal-cruelty-2015-8">caught on film stomping on chickens</a>. The company also cut ties with a California slaughterhouse under investigation for animal cruelty in 2012, according to the New York Post." This grotesque mistreatment of animals – and the Company's inability to make significant progress on promises made to multiple stakeholders in 2012 – clearly stem from dysfunction and indifference in McDonald's' boardroom," Icahn wrote Thursday. "I believe McDonald's' customers want food that is sourced ethically, responsibly and humanely. Gestation crates are none of those."

Carl Icahn slams McDonald's for putting out 'hollow' responses to 'animal welfare violations'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <keyword id="10986979" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Ever-Given">Ever Given</keyword> ship is still lodged in the <keyword id="168216" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Suez-canal">Suez Canal</keyword>, causing a jam of more than 200 vessels.</li><li>At least 20 livestock <keyword id="45536" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="ships">ships</keyword> are trapped, The Guardian reported.</li><li>The stranded animals could starve and die if the situation lasts much longer, a charity warned.</li></ul>At least 20 livestock ships have been unable to pass through the Suez Canal due to the blockage of the global trade route by the massive<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/timeline-and-pictures-of-the-ever-given-stuck-suez-canal-2021-3"> Ever Given</a> container ship, according to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/26/at-least-20-livestock-ships-caught-in-suez-canal-logjam">The Guardian.</a>These livestock ships are among the more than 200 vessels stuck in the bottleneck, according to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/suez-canal-ship-blockage-ever-given/2021/03/26/357f8ae8-8da8-11eb-a33e-da28941cb9ac_story.html">The Washington Post</a>.There are concerns that if the blockage lasts much longer, the animals stranded on the ships could starve, dehydrate, and even die.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wayfair-supply-chain-furniture-order-delays-2021-2">Wayfair's cofounder explains why furniture delivery is still so slow - and when it will return to normal</a>"My greatest fear is that animals run out of food and water and they get stuck on the ships because they cannot be unloaded somewhere else for paperwork reasons," Gerit Weidinger, EU coordinator for the Animals <keyword id="6356001" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="international">International</keyword> charity, told The Guardian."Getting stuck on board means there is a risk [for the <keyword id="38741" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="animal">animal</keyword>s] of starvation, dehydration, injuries, waste buildup so they can't lie down, and nor can the crew get rid of dead animal bodies in the [Suez] canal." Weidinger continued. "It's basically a ticking biohazard timebomb for animals and the crew and any person involved."The majority of the ships loaded animals weeks ago in both Spain and Romania, Animals International told The Guardian. Spanish officials told the paper on Thursday that a pause has been introduced on shipping animals to the Middle East due to the logjam, the paper said."We cannot tell you anything about these ships, but due to the blockage of the Suez canal as a result of the grounding of the cargo ship, the Spanish administration has given orders that no animal transport ships bound for Saudi Arabia and Jordan should be loaded until the canal can be navigated normally," the Spanish agriculture ministry told The Guardian.The Romanian agriculture ministry did not respond to the paper's request for comment.

Animals stranded on board 20 livestock ships waiting to pass through the jammed Suez Canal could starve and die if the situation lasts much longer, charity warns

<keyword id="6358777" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="new-delhi" source="Orion">New Delhi</keyword> [India], February 17 (ANI): The <keyword id="65338" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="income-tax-department" source="Orion">Income Tax Department</keyword> gathered several pieces of evidence pertaining to the BBC India's operation which indicated that taxes were not paid on "certain remittances" which have not been disclosed as income in India by the foreign entities of the group, a <keyword id="121964" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="central-board-of-direct-taxes" source="Orion">Central Board of Direct Taxes</keyword> (CBDT) spokesperson said in a statement on Friday. After three days, the income tax (I-T) department finished its survey at the offices of the BBC in Delhi and Mumbai on Thursday. "A survey action under section 133A of the Income-Tax Act, 1961 (the Act) was carried out at the business premises of group entities of a prominent international Media Company at Delhi and Mumbai," the spokesperson said. Section 133A of the Act enables an income-tax authority to enter any place of business or profession or charitable activity within its jurisdiction to verify the books of account or other documents. The group, the spokesperson without taking name of the entity said, it is engaged in the business of development of content in English, Hindi and various other Indian languages; advertisement sales and market support services. The statement added the survey revealed that despite substantial consumption of content in various Indian languages (apart from English), the income or profits shown by various group entities is "not commensurate with the scale of operations in India". "The survey operations also revealed that services of seconded employees have been utilised for which reimbursement has been made by the Indian entity to the foreign entity concerned. Such remittance was also liable to be subject to withholding tax which has not been done," it added. Further, the survey, the spokesperson said, has also thrown up several discrepancies and inconsistencies with regard to "Transfer Pricing" documentation. "The survey operation has resulted in unearthing of crucial evidences by way of statement of employees, digital evidences and documents which will be further examined in due course." The officials of the I-T depratment recorded statements of only those employees whose role was crucial including those connected to, primarily, finance, content development and other production-related functions. "Even though the department exercised due care to record statements of only key personnel, it was observed that dilatory tactics were employed including in the context of producing documents/agreements sought. Despite such stance of the group, the survey operation was conducted in a manner so as to facilitate continued regular media/channel activity," the spokesperson said. Earlier, BBC had said it was cooperating with the income tax department, which was conducting a survey at its offices in New Delhi and Mumbai. "The Income Tax Authorities are currently at the BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai and we are fully cooperating," the <keyword id="16527651" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="bbc-news-press-team" source="Orion">BBC News Press Team</keyword> said in a statement. The Income Tax 'survey' on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) offices located in Delhi and Mumbai concluded nearly after 60 hours on Thursday evening. Issuing a statement the BBC News PR had said, "The Income Tax Authorities have left our offices in Delhi and Mumbai. We will continue to cooperate with the authorities and hope matters are resolved as soon as possible." "We are supporting staff - some of whom have faced lengthy questioning or been required to stay overnight - and their welfare is our priority. Our output is back to normal and we remain committed to serving our audiences in India and beyond," the statement added. (ANI)

BBC India survey indicated tax evasion on remittances, discrepancies in transfer pricing: Govt

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Kavaan, dubbed "the world's loneliest elephant," has been given the all-clear to be relocated from the Pakistan <keyword id="9066" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Zoo">zoo</keyword> he has been kept in for 35 years.</li><li>Kavaan has lived by himself in a small enclosure in the Marghazar Zoo, Islamabad, since 2012, but will now be moved in order to find a better life and companionship — likely to Cambodia.</li><li><keyword id="4397" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="animal-welfare">Animal welfare</keyword> group <a href="https://www.four-paws.org/our-stories/press-releases/green-light-for-the-rescue-of-the-worlds-loneliest-elephant">Four Paws</a> carried out the examination, with <a href="https://www.four-paws.org/our-stories/press-releases/green-light-for-the-rescue-of-the-worlds-loneliest-elephant">veterinarian Dr. Amir Khalil saying</a> that Kaavan was overweight despite being malnourished due to lack of physical activity, loneliness, and boredom.</li><li>The Marghazar Zoo was shut in May by the Islamabad High Court after it was found to be negligent in its care for its animals.</li></ul>"The loneliest elephant in the world" has got the green light to escape the zoo he has been kept in for 35 years and be released into a wildlife sanctuary to find a better life and companionship.Kavaan the elephant was given a medical examination at the zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan, and has received approval to travel <a href="https://www.four-paws.org/our-stories/press-releases/green-light-for-the-rescue-of-the-worlds-loneliest-elephant">according to Four Paws</a>, the animal welfare organization.Kavaan, who had survived in a small enclosure in the Marghazar Zoo by himself since 2012 when his partner died, will likely be relocated to Cambodia to find the companionship the elephant craves.Four Paws carried out the medical examination and found that Kavaan was strong enough to travel, although there were medical concerns.Dr. Amir Khalil, a Four Paws veterinarian and mission leader, conducted the examination and said that Kaavan is overweight due to malnutrition and little physical exercise. Khalil also found that Kaavan's nails were "cracked and malformed" due to the poor flooring in his enclosure. Khalil said that Kaavan would need to undergo long-term foot treatment.Dr. Frank Göritz, the head veterinarian at Berlin's Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, added that Kaavan has behavioral issues due to being isolated for so long. Göritz said that Kaavan swings his head from side to side for hours, resulting from boredom."Overall, the results from his blood tests are good," Göritz said. "And his general health condition allows him to be relocated."<div type="image" title="Kaavan world's loneliest elephant" height="1200" width="1600" msid="77965335" hostid="261"></div>The medical examination comes after the Islamabad High Court closed the Marghazar Zoo in May because of its poor conditions. The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board took over responsibility and invited Four Paws over to conduct the examination. The decision to close the zoo came too late for two lions, Four Paws report, who died during an attempt to transfer them in July. The animal handlers set a fire in their enclosure, trying to force them into cages for transport.Kaavan arrived at the zoo from Sri Lanka when he was only one-year-old in 1985. His relocation is a big win for the <keyword id="6360323" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="animal-rights">animal rights</keyword> group and singer Cher, who has been campaigning for his release for four years since 2016.Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/carole-baskin-criticizes-cardi-b-megan-thee-stallions-wap-video-2020-8">Carole Baskin criticized Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's use of big cats in their 'WAP' video</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/making-animal-crush-torture-videos-serial-killer-warning-sign-2020-7">The availability of 'animal crush' content has created a cat-and-mouse subculture of attention-seeking animal abusers and the web sleuths who suss them out</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/gunman-releases-hostages-after-president-recommends-vegan-documentary-2020-7">An armed man in Ukraine released 10 hostages after the president publicly recommended the animal-rights documentary 'Earthlings'</a>

The 'world's loneliest elephant' will finally find some friends after 35 years in a Pakistan zoo

(Image Credit- worldatlas.com)<ul><li>The Indian government is reportedly considering a huge increase in penalties for animal abuse — but mainly as an inflation adjusting measure </li><li>From a paltry sum of ₹50, the fines are set to increase up to ₹6,000 </li><li>India’s current penalties are a legacy of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA), 1960. </li></ul>It appears that after decades of <keyword id="4397" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="animal-welfare">animal welfare</keyword> activism and recent directives from the Supreme Court, the Indian government is looking at revising its fines for <keyword id="6389744" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="animal-cruelty">animal cruelty</keyword>. The government is evaluating a proposal to raise its existing fines from a paltry sum of ₹50 to ₹6,000, the <a href="https://theprint.in/governance/modi-govt-hikes-penalty-for-cruelty-to-animals-by-120-times/164044/">The Print</a> reported citing sources. The move is aimed at correcting the fines to mainly adjust for inflation, said the report. The existing fines have not been changed since 1960 when India’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA) was passed. Even today, under the laws, fines have ranged from ₹10 to no more than ₹50 for violated the law by mistreating the animals. Animal activists and citizens have long criticised the penalties as it wasn’t a big enough deterrent and many have termed it as a mockery. Too little, Too late? While the government is moving to correct the unjust penalties, it has reportedly ignored several Supreme Court directives to impose ‘adequate penalties and punishment’ to curtail animal cruelty. Animal welfare activists, meanwhile, have also been pushing for stringent laws. In 2016, several Indian politicians and celebrities including <keyword id="42749" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shashi-Tharoor">Shashi Tharoor</keyword>, Poonam Mahajan, Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda, <keyword id="42634" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Varun-Gandhi">Varun Gandhi</keyword> and <keyword id="6431260" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Meenakshi-Lekhi">Meenakshi Lekhi</keyword> introduced a campaign ‘No more 50’ that emphasised the penalty was far from enough. Earlier this year, India’s Supreme Court overturned a <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-40740151">ban </a>on a traditional bull-taming sport in South India following protests. The ban had put in place in 2014 after a campaign from animal welfare groups. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/policy/india-may-ban-its-poultry-and-meat-industry-from-using-a-growth-promoting-drug-linked-to-antibiotic-resistance/articleshow/66941051.cms">India may ban its poultry and meat industry from using a growth-promoting drug linked to antibiotic-resistance</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/indian-airports-may-soon-replace-security-dogs-with-robotic-canines-that-can-sniff-out-bombs-and-use-x-ray-vision-to-scan-luggage/articleshow/66939904.cms">Indian airports may soon replace security dogs with ‘robotic canines’ that can sniff out bombs and use X-ray vision to scan luggage</a>

India to revise fines for animal cruelty after nearly 60 years with penalties of up to ₹6,000: Report

Analysis shows that children in the age group of 0-14 years are less affected by <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword>, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan informed the Lok Sabha on Friday. He said in a written reply that infection among children is mild and most of them remain asymptomatic. "Hence no specific action plan has been formulated in the current response phase to minimise the adverse effects of COVID-19 on such children," he said. Very rarely a severe illness, in form of multi-system inflammatory syndrome, has been identified, Vardhan said, adding this happens usually three to six weeks after the infection. The Department of Pediatrics, AIIMS, is documenting the long term effect of COVID-19 infection in children, he said. The minister was responding to a question on whether the government had formulated any action plan to control and minimise the adverse effects of COVID-19 in children aged 0-14. For appropriate management of COVID-19 cases, a three-tier arrangement of health facilities has been implemented -- <keyword id="8995444" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-care-centre">COVID Care Centre</keyword> with isolation beds for mild or pre-symptomatic cases, Dedicated COVID Health Centre (DCHC) with oxygen supported isolation beds for moderate cases and Dedicated COVID Hospital (DCH) with ICU beds for severe cases, he said. Guidelines on clinical management of COVID-19 have been issued, Vardhan said. They also provides for management of complications. On whether the government has made any assessment of adverse effects of COVID-19 on <keyword id="6354774" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mental-health">mental health</keyword> of children and has provided psychological support through healthcare professionals, Vardhan said the <keyword id="263716" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="ministry-of-education">Ministry of Education</keyword> has initiated a programme called 'manodarpan' covering a wide range of activities to provide psycho-social support to students, teachers and families for mental health and emotional wellbeing. There is a national toll-free helpline 8448440632 to provide tele-counselling for students, parents and teachers to help cope with the situation, he said. The standard operating procedure for health and safety protocols for reopening of schools issued by the Ministry of Education has incorporated guidelines for promoting emotional well-being of students and teachers, the minister said. The <keyword id="210071" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Health">Ministry of Health</keyword> set up a 24/7 helpline through NIMHANS, Bangalore, on March 29, 2020 to provide psycho-social support to the affected population, divided into different target groups, Vardhan said. Two central mental health institutions -- namely LGB Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur and Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi -- along with various states and UTs were also on-boarded to extend the services in regional and local languages. He said guidelines and advisories on management of mental health issues, catering to different segments of the society, were issued. All the guidelines, advisories and advocacy material can be accessed on the <keyword id="191419" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Health-and-Family-Welfare">Ministry of Health and Family Welfare</keyword> website under 'Behavioural Health - Psycho-social helpline', Vardhan said. He further said that various media platforms were used for creative and audio-visual materials on managing stress and anxiety, and promoting an environment of support and care for all. To address the burden of mental disorders, <keyword id="6377129" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="government-of-india">Government of India</keyword> is implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), Vardhan said, adding the government is supporting implementation of the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) under NMHP in 692 districts of the country. To generate awareness among masses about mental illnesses, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities are an integral part of the NMHP, he said, and at the District level, funds up to ₹4 lakh per annum are provided under the DMHP for awareness generation activities, he said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/easemytrip-ipo-listing-price-at-13-5-premium/articleshow/81581828.cms">EaseMyTrip lists at 13.5% premium – but gives up some of the listing gains soon after</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-9-pro-specs-oneplus-9e-specs-and-price-leak-and-oneplus-9-series-launch-date/articleshow/81168227.cms">OnePlus 9 series specifications and features leaked – here's everything we know about the upcoming OnePlus smartphones</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/checkout-review-of-moto-g10-power-mobile-phone-review-and-features-information/articleshow/81583548.cms">Moto G10 Power mobile review – big battery on a shoestring budget</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/future-retail-shares-take-a-massive-hit-as-it-loses-the-case-against-amazon-in-delhi-high-court/articleshow/81583165.cms">Future Retail shares take a massive hit as it loses the case against Amazon in Delhi High Court</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-9r-will-be-the-companys-next-affordable-smartphone-india-launch-confirmed-for-march-23/articleshow/81586104.cms">OnePlus 9R will be the company’s next affordable smartphone, India launch confirmed for March 23</a>

Analysis shows children between 0-14 years less affected by COVID, says Health Minister

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The death of Babuji the bull has sent an entire Indian village into days of mourning.</li><li>Around 3,000 villagers held a grand death feast for Babuji on Saturday, as well as funeral rites and social ceremonies, reported The Times of <keyword id="11892747" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>.</li><li>Babuji was considered by some in the village to be the incarnaton of a Hindu guardian deity called Nandi.</li></ul>Ceremonial rites, cremation, and a grand feast for thousands of people - a village in India has rolled out the works for the funeral of a beloved bull that lived with them for 20 years, <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/village-mourns-babuji-the-bull-holds-shraddh-feast-for-3k/articleshow/85550297.cms">reported The Times of India.</a>Babuji the bull died of natural causes on August 15, and the village of Kurdi, in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, has been commemorating his death over the last week, honoring the animal as they would a village elder, per The Times.It reported that on Saturday, around 3,000 people attended Babuji's death feast - <a href="https://scroll.in/magazine/973083/why-indians-of-all-faiths-commemorate-the-dead-with-food">called a terahvi</a> - where priests chanted for his soul, and a photo shrine of the bull was showered with cash and flowers.Village residents told The Times that Babuji was almost like a family member to them, and was considered a "gift from the divine." The bull was also found roaming a village holy site when he was young, prompting some to call him Nandi, a Hindu guardian deity <a href="https://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/articles/story-of-nandi">usually depicted as a bull.</a>In the days before the death feast, the villagers conducted religious rites and mourning ceremonies for Babuji, including cremation and a rasam pagri, which is a funeral ceremony for the death of the eldest male in a family, added The Times.Cows are considered <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-34513185">sacred in many parts of India</a>, and most states forbid cow slaughter or the eating of beef. One state, Madhya Pradesh, has even set up a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-doctors-warn-smearing-cow-dung-body-not-fight-covid-2021-5">"cow cabinet"</a> to look after the welfare of the <keyword id="11897851" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="animals" source="Orion">animals</keyword>. In May, several men covered themselves in cow dung and urine under the belief that it would improve their immunity against COVID-19. Doctors <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-doctors-warn-smearing-cow-dung-body-not-fight-covid-2021-5">have since warned against the practice</a>, saying there was no scientific evidence to support it.

3,000 villagers in India held a feast to mourn a beloved bull that lived with them for 20 years

After the completion of two months of its operations, <keyword id="11911527" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="akasa-air" source="Orion">Akasa Air</keyword> is set to establish Delhi as the sixth destination on its network and inaugurate its first flight on the Delhi-Bengaluru and Delhi-Ahmedabad routes on October 7. The airline also announced Pets-on-Board, a pet-friendly service in line with its commitment to create an inclusive travel experience. Both the new routes will be served with daily flights in each direction. The airline has announced eight destinations so far, including Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, Chennai, Delhi, Agartala and Guwahati being covered with 11 non-stop routes. <keyword id="2929104" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="akasa" source="Orion">Akasa</keyword> Air, India's newest airline, has completed the first two months of its commercial journey in building India's greenest, most dependable, and most affordable airline. Speaking at an event to mark the airline's first 60 days of operations, <keyword id="4593743" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="vinay-dube" source="Orion">Vinay Dube</keyword>, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Akasa Air said, "Our first two months have been very exciting and satisfying as we moved from planning to commercial operations. We have been hyper focussed on establishing and delivering an empathetic, dependable, and reliable flying experience unlike anything witnessed in the Indian skies thus far". Commenting on the rapid network expansion, <keyword id="3952991" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="praveen-iyer" source="Orion">Praveen Iyer</keyword>, Co-Founder, and Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air, said "We are elated by the response we have received as we welcomed on board more than 100,000 passengers within just 60 days of operations. Further strengthening our domestic connectivity and catering to more flyers during the festive season, we are delighted to be able to add Delhi to our network and connect the capital city to the rapidly growing and vibrant cities of Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. By expanding our network with an aircraft arriving every 15 days, we aim to fulfil our goal of developing a strong pan-India presence and expect to operate 300 weekly flights by October end." Speaking on product, service and customer experience, Belson Coutinho, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing &amp; Experience Officer, Akasa Air said, "We set out with a promise to be a dependable airline focussing on warm, efficient, and reliable service". As we continue with our vision to create an inclusive and humane travel experience, Akasa's pet-friendly service will commence from 1st November 2022, wherein passengers flying on Akasa Air will be able to travel with their pets in the cabin. Taking an additional step to ease the travel experience of pet parents and their wards, we have joined hands with <keyword id="7747778" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="umeed-for-animals-foundation" source="Orion">Umeed for Animals Foundation</keyword> to ensure smooth pet-friendly travel", he added. Akasa Air has been progressively expanding its network across the country, in a phased approach with a commitment towards making travel accessible in India through the introduction of routes in Tier 2 and 3 cities. The company has recently received its sixth aircraft and will have a fleet size of 18 aircraft by the end of March 2023. Over the next four years, the airline will add 54 additional aircraft, taking its total fleet size to 72 aircraft. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/insider-picks/news/98-of-companies-responsible-for-80-of-corporate-greenhouse-emissions-refuse-to-disclose-their-climate-change-impacts-study/articleshow/94678938.cms">98% of companies responsible for 80% of corporate greenhouse emissions refuse to disclose their climate-change impacts: Study</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/road-safety-body-urges-withdrawal-of-notification-that-makes-6-airbags-mandatory-in-pvs/articleshow/94678279.cms">Road safety body urges withdrawal of notification that makes 6 airbags mandatory in PVs</a>

Akasa Air launches maiden flights from Delhi, to allow pets in the cabin

New Delhi, Mar 11 () Drug firm Cadila Healthcare on Wednesday said its board has approved the transfer of its animal healthcare business on a going concern basis to its wholly-owned arm Zydus Animal Health and Investments Ltd (ZAHL) as part of its internal restructuring exercise. The transfer of animal healthcare business is through execution of a definitive agreement, Cadila Healthcare said in a filing to BSE. The animal healthcare business (AHB) consists of development, manufacturing, marketing and selling of animal healthcare products in India and other countries, it added. "No cash consideration will be paid by ZAHL for transfer of AHB. ZAHL will issue and allot 227,33,50,000, 8 per cent non-convertible non-cumulative redeemable preference shares of Rs 10 each at face value, aggregating to Rs 2,273.35 crore, in exchange for transfer of AHB," Cadila Healthcare said. ZAHL is engaged in the business of pharmaceuticals and investments, it added. Cadila Healthcare Ltd and ZAHL are the parties to the definitive agreement, the filing said. Cadila Healthcare shares closed at Rs 258.15 on BSE, up 0.84 per cent from the previous close. AKT MR

You Searched For "animal welfare board of india" and got 11 results

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