Aizawl, Dec 3: In a push to strengthen animal welfare awareness across Mizoram, the Zemabawk Auto Rickshaw Owners Association (ZAROA) on Tuesday adopted the nationwide “Be Kind to Animals” campaign during a special assembly in Aizawl.
The initiative follows a directive from the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), which has made it mandatory for all public transport vehicles in India to display the slogan prominently. Acting on the order, Mizoram’s State Animal Welfare Board, along with the Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department and the Transport Department, oversaw the distribution of the stickers to auto-rickshaw owners at the event.
Mizoram Transport Secretary Er. R. Lalrammawia has already instructed that buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws statewide must carry the message, reinforcing the government’s stance on humane treatment of animals.
Addressing the gathering, Ramzirthangi—founder of JB Foundation and owner of the state’s only animal rescue centre—said compassion toward animals is not just a legal requirement but a moral duty. She emphasised that kindness to animals is deeply rooted in Christian values and called for bigger awareness drives and stronger policy support from the government.
She reminded transport operators that cruelty such as beating, overloading or mishandling animals is punishable under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Citing the Transport of Animals Rules, 1978, she flagged rising concerns over improper livestock transport in Mizoram, stressing that animals must be moved only after being examined and certified fit by a qualified veterinarian. Transporting animals without this mandatory Fitness Certificate is both illegal and harmful, she added.
On August 25, MoRTH issued formal instructions to Chief Secretaries and Transport Commissioners of all states and Union Territories directing strict compliance with the “Be Kind to Animals” display rule. Mizoram is now among the first states to actively roll out the campaign at the grassroots transport level.
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