BRIEF HISTORY OF IDA INDIA

 
Born in October 1996, the first project taken up by IDA INDIA was neutering of street dogs. Having no place to start a center, a small beginning was made in March 1997 in two garages of a residential colony in Bhandup, a suburb of Mumbai.For three years IDA INDIA worked in small make shift centers, all the time requesting the Municipal Corporation to hand over their erstwhile Dog Pound at Deonar to them for setting up a permanent center. Finally, with the intervention of the Bombay High Court, the Corporation handed over the premises to IDA INDIA on 22nd December 1999, a date that most IDA-ites will not forget, as it was a dream come true to have a permanent set up.

Deonar is one-acre plot fenced by a compound wall. Initially there were 10 rooms (10 ft. x 11ft.) to house dogs, and another 500sq.ft. Construction, which was dilapidated. On occupying the premises, the broken compound wall was repaired, the flooring of the rooms was changed, the metal doors were removed and grill doors installed so that the dogs could see through the grills and not feel claustrophobic. Thereafter the other building was renovated, to make an operation theatre, a recovery room, a tiny kitchen, a small storeroom and an office area. Arrangement for water supply with overhead tanks was made, and finally the place was painted to give it a fresh vibrant look. So finally from 1st February 2000,IDA INDIA's Deonar Centre was started.

A year later IDA INDIA raised funds to construct 5 more rooms to increase the capacity from 100 to 150 dogs, two community kennels for shelter dogs, a cat ward and a sick dog ward. The Animal Welfare Board of India funded the construction of an underground water tank, and the Government of India funded the purchase an Ambulance. Hira Laxmi Charitable Trust constructed the isolation ward for suspected cases of rabies, distemper animals.

Today, IDA India is able to sterilize 400 dogs and cats per month and render treatment to innumerable ill / injured animals that are brought in by the 3 ambulances from nook and corner of the city – approx. 120 to 150 every month.

IDA INDIA is

  • Registered under the Society's Registration Act XXIX of 1950.Registration No 1404/1996 dated 31st October 1996.

  • Registered with the Charity Commissioner, Greater Bombay. Registration NO. F 18786 (Mumbai) dated 18th January 1997.

  • Donations are exempted from Income Tax under section 80-G of the Income Tax Act 1961,as per certificate No. AN (C) / MN / 80-G / 1980 / 2005 / 2004-05 dated 1st April 2005 and Valid up to 31st March 2008.

  • Registration for Foreign Contributions under the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA) received and number is 083780752,given by Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India by letter No. II/ 21022/68(127)/2000-FCRA-III dated 13th December 2000.

Contributions from foreign countries can be sent to IDA through the website: www.remit2india.com by which amount will get credited directly into our bank account, at no cost to the donor. www.remit2india.com is a reputed site of the Times of India Group, and IDA India supporters from foreign countries may please use this site to remit funds to IDA India, with intimation to IDA India by email to info@idaindia.org

IDA India has spread its wings and has made efforts to help animals outside of Mumbai city. Two new centers have been set up in this endeavour:

Vashi Centre: The twin city of Mumbai viz. Navi Mumbai has not had a neutering center for animals for past several years. With great effort from Ms. Naina Athale, Managing Committee Member, IDA India was able to convince the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) to start the neutering center for street dogs in their erstwhile Dog Pound. Thus from 26th July 2006, IDA India’s second center became operational at Vashi in Navi Mumbai, where approximately 225 dogs are neutered every month.

Neral Centre: IDA India had started a center at the hill station of Matheran in October 2005, to help the ponies used for carting people and cargo. Despite having more than 600 horses working in and around Matheran, there is not a single veterinarian or an animal center in the region. However with the vet Dr. Rajnish quitting for greener pastures the project received a set back. IDA India then recruited another vet Dr. P. M. Bhosale and sent him to New Delhi to the Brookes Hospital for Animals, India for practical training in equines treatment. Brookes were extremely kind and trained Dr. Bhosale in this field. On his return, the center was restarted – this time at Neral, at the foothills of Matheran from 28th August 2006. Since then he has been able to help innumerable animals and create awareness amongst the “owners” that they need to take better care of their animals.

Free Mobile Clinic for street animals: The load on the Deonar Centre has been tremendous, with the ambulances bringing in innumerable ill / injured animals from the nook and corner of the city. The pressure is even more during the summer and rainy season. To reduce this pressure, a Free Mobile Clinic for Street Animal was started from 1st November 2006, so that animals with minor ailments like skin infections, cough & cold can be treated on the road itself, with continuous follow up until the animal has recovered.