Panjab University Animal Welfare Committee: A committee to Strengthen Awareness, Capacity Building and Human-Animal Coexistence
Panjab University took an important step towards institutionalising animal welfare within the university by initiating the formation of the Panjab University Animal Welfare Committee, a proposed 18 member committee bringing together faculty members, student-oriented bodies and representatives from diverse academic disciplines on a common platform.
City Air News
Oct 12, 2026 08:14
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Chandigarh, 12 October 2026: Panjab University took an important step towards institutionalising animal welfare within the university by initiating the formation of the Panjab University Animal Welfare Committee, a proposed 18 member committee bringing together faculty members, student-oriented bodies and representatives from diverse academic disciplines on a common platform.
The inaugural meeting was held today in the Vice Chancellor’s Committee Room (VCCR). Chairperson Centre for Social Work Prof. Monica Munjal Singh alongwith Dr Gaurav Gaur faculty of Social Work (CSW), with Saarthak Jain, Zonal Head, North India, People for Animals (PFA), serving as its External Advisor. Members from PFA Chandigarh also attended the launch of this Committee.
The initiative aims to develop a coordinated, interdisciplinary approach to animal welfare by connecting university departments, faculty members, students and volunteers. With representation from diverse departments like Laws, Zoology, alongside the involvement of the National Service Scheme (NSS) and the National Cadet Corps (NCC), the Board seeks to bring together academic knowledge, student participation and practical engagement.
Capacity building and awareness will be central to the Board’s activities, focusing on animal welfare, legal awareness, responsible intervention and institutional collaboration. Participants, including professors, assistant professors, doctors and other members, expressed their commitment to animal welfare. Discussions covered key legal frameworks, including Article 51A(g) of the Constitution, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, and relevant wildlife protection laws and guidelines.
The deliberations emphasised promoting compassionate communities, responsible human behaviour and reducing human–animal and human–wildlife conflicts through education, awareness and stakeholder coordination. The initiative highlights the role of educational institutions in fostering compassion, civic responsibility and peaceful coexistence between humans and animals.
