Amidst allegations and counter allegations into the issue pertaining to the animals’ shelter home at St Inez, the Corporation of City of Panjim (CCP) is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with NGO Haven Of Miracles Enclave (HOME) replacing Panjim Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).
The Camurlim-based NGO has been considered as a prospective agency to run the animal welfare centre after a fall-out between the CCP and PAWS last month. “We have sent the file to the legal department for formalities to sign the MoU,” a CCP official told Herald.
The CCP Council, during its recently held meeting, unanimously resolved to terminate the service with PAWS taking cognizance of a series of complaints by the general public as well as corporators against the NGO including failure to prove any valid contract or MoU or agreement with the CCP.
PAWS had accused the Corporation of harassment by withdrawing six staff from the centre, two vehicles and one ambulance mid-last month. The CCP on the other hand shot back stating the uncooperative attitude of the PAWS as well as the misuse of the premise owned by CCP as well as CCP manpower and logistics led to this decision. Moreover, CCP claims there is no contract with the NGO, which has been associated with it since 2003.
With the termination of the contract, HOME has been roped in for the purpose. In a letter addressed to the CCP, a copy of which is with Herald HOME Founder Ruth Walsh stated, “We will to contribute towards animal welfare with your esteemed support, assistance and cooperation by setting up a ‘state of the art’ 24X7 animal rescue centre that would operate on a “NO KILL” policy basis… We wish to integrate our expertise with your own smart city plan by organising and implementing a fully-fledged Rescue-Rehabilitation-Animal Birth Control Centre for the CCP.” The CCP source further told Herald that the shelter home would be renamed even as it has transferred two of the total six staff back to the centre, to ensure the ongoing work is not stalled.
PAWS Secretary Angela Kazi has expressed shock over the new development arguing that CCP did not take them into confidence. “I am not aware of it,” she told Herald while also alleging that MoU signed between CCP and PAWS has been missing from the Corporation’s office. “I do not have to prove that I am 100 per cent legitimate and there is nothing illegal at this premise. We are a registered NGO. The CCP has lost the file. We have all the documents sorted,” she said declining to mention whether or not she will submit a copy of the MoU to the CCP. Kazi went on to add that she will wait for a week to decide her further course of action.
CCP Commissioner Dipak Desai, in a comprehensive report to the North District Magistrate, has submitted that the work of PAWS is not satisfactory and CCP was in receipt of many complaints. “They (PAWS) had hardly sterilized average of 30 to 40 dogs. Comparatively, the CCP is spending about Rs 2.28 lakh per month on the salaries and other expenditure which is huge but the work of PAWs is not satisfactory…” he said, expressing reservations about misleading information. The Corporation also denied that it had paralysed the Centre by withdrawing the staff.
