In a bid to develop respect and compassion among children towards animals, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has advocated the introduction of humane education in schools across India, an official said Friday.
PETA has forwarded the ‘compassionate citizen humane-education resource material’ for children aged 8-12 years to Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal.
“We will be meeting him next week to discuss the issue further,” Guru S. Nair, PETA India supporter and vice chairman of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) cultural cell told IANS.
“We will also be meeting CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) chairperson Vineet Joshi soon,” he added.
According to PETA India’s senior education coordinator Puja Mahajan, teaching the importance of tolerance and compassion to a child will stem violence in society at large.
“Lack of respect for other species can translate into insensitivity and cruelty towards humans too. It is well documented by psychologists, sociologists and law-enforcement officials that violence against animals by children is often an early warning sign of future acts of violence towards humans.”
The programme has already been used successfully on a voluntary basis in nearly 10,000 private and government schools, reaching approximately two million children across India, said PETA India.
