ABSTRACT
This chapter makes a brilliant case for the need of an animal-friendly disaster management act. The author argues that there are no specific guidelines either in Disaster Management Act of 2005 or the National Plan of 2009 for preparedness, rescue and rehabilitation of animals after any disaster. The chapter reviews the disaster management in India in terms of an inclusive institutional framework, available data base and budgetary allocations for disaster response and mitigation to find out how far disaster management plans accommodate the non-humans like domesticated, wild and homeless stray animals despite a Constitutional responsibility under Article 48A and Article 51A of the constitution. While just two Congressmen in the US could bring about the Pet Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS) in 2005, the gigantic Indian parliament, with the world’s largest animal population facing disasters and the world’s strongest religion to vouch for their rights, is yet to initiate minimal preliminary steps towards even recognizing its need with equanimity and ecological justice. The author exposes the neglect towards non-human species in all disaster management acts and the economic linkages of these losses to development.
