Imagine sitting down and counting every second, doing nothing but saying, “One, two, three, four…” It would take nearly 12 days to count to a million. To reach a billion? Over 31 years. Numbers of this scale are difficult to grasp. When we hear about one dog, Brijesh, brutally beaten to death by a serial killer, it’s shocking. A hundred dogs killed for dog meat might still evoke outrage. But when we talk about 10,000, 1 lakh, or millions of sentient beings suffering, the sheer magnitude becomes incomprehensible—our minds struggle to visualize each individual life lost.
Yet, the suffering is real.
Every year in India, billions of animals endure cruelty—on the streets, in farms, in slaughterhouses, in testing labs. Their suffering is hidden, unrecorded, and unrecognized. When an activist once approached the National Crime Records Bureau to ask for data on crimes against animals, the response was chillingly indifferent: “We have no data on animals.” It was a stark confirmation of the painful truth—these lives don’t even count in official records.
The problem isn’t just lack of empathy—it’s systemic. Laws remain outdated, enforcement is weak, and policies rarely prioritize animal welfare. Individual rescues, while crucial, cannot fix a broken system. The real change must come through systemic advocacy—ensuring strong laws, policies, and institutional support to protect animals at scale.
India’s Urgent Need for Systemic Animal Protection
India is home to one of the largest populations of domesticated and farmed animals in the world, yet systemic animal protection remains an underdeveloped field. According to the Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics (BAHS), 2023 released by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India:
- 535 million cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, and pigs make up the country’s livestock population.
- 851 million poultry birds are raised, primarily in intensive farming conditions.
- 3.54 billion land animals are slaughtered annually, with pigs and poultry comprising the majority.
- 105 billion fish are killed annually in aquaculture practices.
- 62 million street dogs and 9.1 million stray cats struggle with inadequate care and unregulated breeding practices.
Despite the existence of laws like the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, enforcement remains weak. Advocacy efforts lack skilled personnel who can effectively engage with policymakers, law enforcement, and local authorities.
Founding the Ahimsa Fellowship: A Collective Mission
Recognising the urgent need for skilled advocates working at a systemic level, leading animal protection organisations came together to conceptualise the Ahimsa Fellowship, with People For Animals Uttarakhand leading the charge to run this programme. The initiative is supported by India Animal Fund, Kaivalya Education Foundation, Humane Society International India, Mercy For Animals India, Miranda House College (University of Delhi), NALSAR University of Law, and Fish Welfare Initiative India. These organisations and institutions bring expertise, mentorship, and opportunities to equip Fellows with the tools to drive long-term change and now the Ahimsa Fellowship stands as a beacon of transformative leadership in the field of animal protection, fostering a cadre of individuals meticulously trained to spearhead systemic change.
Bridging the Gap: Passion Meets Strategic Impact
Many individuals deeply care about animals but lack the skills to lead impactful change. Conversely, many professionals with strategic skills lack exposure to animal advocacy. The Ahimsa Fellowship bridges this gap, identifying passionate individuals and training them, over the course of 8 months, in:
- Legal frameworks and policy advocacy
- Field visits and documentation
- Government engagement and lobbying
- Corporate outreach and fundraising
- Strategic communication and campaign management
Fellows emerge as skilled and well-rounded professionals who are equipped to tackle India’s most critical animal welfare challenges and can advocate for animals at scale—shaping policies, working with law enforcement, and influencing decision-makers.
Evolution and Expansion of the Ahimsa Fellowship
Rooted in a philosophy of continual evolution, the Ahimsa Fellowship has dynamically expanded its scope alongside the Indian animal protection movement. Initially focused on engaging with government bodies at the state and district levels, the program now encompasses a comprehensive suite of skills essential for effective advocacy, including corporate engagement to push for improved animal welfare standards in business practices and consumer awareness initiatives to promote ethical consumption and plant-based alternatives.
The Journey So Far: From Vision to Impact
The first cohort of Ahimsa Fellows was launched in 2021. Since then, four cohorts have been trained, with the fourth with 14 Fellows, currently in progress and set to conclude in May 2025. A total of 46 Fellows have completed the programme many of whom have gone on to:
- Join leading organizations like People For Animals Public Policy Foundation, Humane Society International India, Mercy For Animals India, Fish Welfare Initiative India, and India Animal Fund
- Establish their own advocacy organisations/initiatives such as Varaha Impact Foundation, Aloha Ahimsa Foundation and Consumers For Sustainability.
- Lead campaigns influencing policies on issues ranging from fish welfare to the pig farming industry.
Impact and Future
The Ahimsa Fellowship doesn’t just equip its Fellows with knowledge—it empowers them with a robust toolbox for action. Some of the key achievements include:
- 120+ criminal complaints filed for animal cruelty.
- 50+ comprehensive reports submitted to government authorities on issues ranging from industrial agriculture to municipal animal management.
- 60+ capacity-building workshops conducted for police officials, veterinary officers, and pollution control board authorities.
- 250+ media features highlighting Fellows’ work, ranging from national dailies to grassroots publications.
- 12 Fellow-led initiatives emerging across 15 organisations and projects.
Through strategic interventions, legal advocacy, and grassroots mobilisation, the Ahimsa Fellowship is creating a new generation of changemakers—people who don’t just fight for one Brijesh, one Moti, or one Gopi, but for systemic reforms that will protect all animals, across the length and breadth of India.
We aim to transform India into a more hospitable place for animals, ensuring that legislative bodies and government institutions increasingly integrate animal welfare into their policies and legal frameworks.
About This Blog Series
This introductory blog serves as a gateway to understanding the vision, impact, and evolution of the Ahimsa Fellowship. In the coming posts, Fellows will share their experiences, case studies, policy wins, and the challenges they navigate in the field. Through their firsthand accounts, this series will provide a comprehensive look at animal protection issues, advocacy efforts, and the systemic change being built in India—one advocate at a time.