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.
