New Delhi: In a significant administrative reform aimed at improving animal welfare, the Delhi government under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has decided to constitute Societies for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCAs) in all 13 revenue districts of the national capital.
The move comes in the wake of the recent reorganisation of districts and is intended to strengthen the implementation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 at the grassroots level. Each SPCA will be headed by the respective District Magistrate (DM), ensuring direct administrative oversight and quicker response to cases of animal cruelty.
Officials said the district-level committees will include experts and individuals associated with animal welfare, allowing for better coordination between enforcement authorities and civil society stakeholders. The Chief Minister emphasised that decentralising the system would make it more efficient and responsive to complaints.
Highlighting the importance of the initiative, Gupta said, “Protecting animals is a mark of a sensitive and responsible society,” adding that the government is committed to building a more humane and accountable framework for animal protection.
At the state level, the Animal Welfare Board will function as the apex body overseeing the entire structure. It will monitor implementation, provide technical and financial support, and ensure that district SPCAs function effectively. This integrated approach is expected to significantly enhance the capacity of the system.
In a key structural change, the government has also decided to dissolve the existing Delhi Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA). Officials noted that the new framework would replace fragmented mechanisms with a more streamlined and coherent system, improving accountability and efficiency.
Gupta expressed confidence that with District Magistrates leading the committees, cases of cruelty would be addressed more swiftly, with improved monitoring and coordination on the ground.
The Chief Minister said the combined framework of the Animal Welfare Board and district SPCAs would deliver tangible improvements in animal welfare outcomes, ensuring stricter enforcement of laws and greater awareness across the capital.