India

Helping working animals and the communities that rely on them for over 20 years – Brooke India continues to go from strength to strength.  

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At a glance

India is a middle-Income Country with a population of 544,000 working horses, donkeys, and mules as per the 2019 census. Indian equine owners belong to the poorest and most marginalized of communities in India. Most of them rely on these animals for their livelihoods and survival. They face numerous economic challenges and struggle to make ends meet. 

Brooke India (BI) is actively engaged in 36 Equine Welfare Projects (EWPs) across 11 States and Union Territories. Through these projects, BI is making a direct impact on approximately 220,000 working equines belonging to 92,000 equine owners. Additionally, BI extends its reach indirectly to a broader population of equines, estimated to be over 460,000 equines belonging to 228,000 equine owners through Equine Trade Fairs, extension, and advocacy initiatives.

BI has achieved remarkable success in establishing over 2,300 Equine Welfare Groups (EWG) which are Self Help Groups that are committed to enhancing the welfare of working equines. These groups play an active role in improving the living conditions of these animals while also creating alternative livelihood opportunities for their owners. A noteworthy aspect is that out of these EWGs formed, approximately 1,500 are Women EWGs, which specifically focus on empowering women and developing economic resilience among them.

Take a closer look

In India, the working equine is the primary source of livelihood and each horse/mule typically supports approximately a family of 6. Equine owners encounter significant challenges in raising and caring for them, due to archaic care and management practices traditionally followed. Their work in the Brick Kilns (BK) industry, which is the largest employer of working equines, is strenuous and undertaken in tough working conditions in a harsh environment. This takes a huge toll on these sentient creatures, who often fall ill due to overwork, improper care, and inadequate access to proper nourishment and clean water. The outdated traditional veterinary and farriery practices followed by the equine-owning community also give rise to substantial animal welfare concerns.

Brooke India’s Journey

Since its establishment in India in 1992, Brooke India has undergone remarkable growth. BI began as a mobile ambulance team providing free treatment to suffering animals and now has evolved into a collaborative effort with local communities, large organizations, and government entities. Brooke India strives to raise awareness about the plight of working horses, donkeys, and mules, and address the underlying issues through sustainable measures, bringing about lasting change to eliminate these challenges once and for all.

For over three decades, Brooke India has been dedicated to improving the lives of working horses, donkeys, and mules. Throughout its evolution, the program has undergone several phases, each with specific objectives and strategies:

  • In the first phase, the focus was on providing veterinary services for working equines, which were directly managed and supervised by Brooke UK.
  • The second phase shifted the attention to equine welfare by offering free veterinary and support services to working equines at fixed locations.
  • The third phase aimed to achieve long-term and sustainable improvements in equine welfare by actively engaging equine owners in the process.
  • In the fourth phase, a holistic approach was adopted, emphasizing the strengthening of the local service delivery system in addition to the aforementioned interventions.
  • The current and fifth phase employs a multi-pronged approach. It involves the formation and capacity building of Women and Men Equine Welfare Groups (EWGs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). Comprehensive equine health services are provided, and local health providers are trained to enhance their capacity. Moreover, linkages are established between the EWGs and service providers trained by Brooke India. Additionally, special attention is given to Brick Kilns (BKs) as these sites offer significant livelihood opportunities to equine owners for a considerable portion of the year

Furthermore, Brooke India (BI) extends emergency treatment services to working equines in urgent need of medical intervention. These services adhere to the guidelines established in the Brooke Service Provision. Specifically, BI ensures that dedicated equine fair extension interventions are in place to promptly address and attend to the critical healthcare needs of working horses, donkeys, and mules. By offering timely emergency treatment, BI aims to alleviate suffering and provide vital care to these equines when they require immediate medical attention.

Throughout these phases, Brooke India has remained committed to its mission of improving the well-being of working equines and has implemented a range of interventions to address their needs effectively.

BI’s Priorities FY 23-24

BI recognizes the utmost importance of equine health and welfare. BI acknowledges that addressing the needs of working equines can only be effective if the equine owners, who are responsible for their care, possess the financial capability, awareness, and training to adopt sound animal husbandry and welfare practices. With this objective in mind, BI's programmatic intervention currently concentrates on two key aspects:

  • Improving the health and welfare of equines
  • Developing economic resilience of marginalized equine-owning communities

Documentation

Annual Reports & Annual audited financials

Partnerships and Memberships

Memberships:

  1. Delhi Management Association (DMA)
  2. National Academy of Veterinary Sciences India (NAVSI)

Collaborating agencies:

  1. Animal Nepal (AN)
  2. Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying/One Health Support Unit (DAHD/OHSU)
  3. DevAct Consultant Pvt. Ltd. Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh
  4. ICAR-National Research Centre for Equines (NRCE)
  5. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
  6. International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
  7. Mahila Abhivruddhi Society, Andhra Pradesh (APMAS)
  8. Sahbhagi Shikshan Kendra (SSK), Lucknow
  9. South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC)
  10. Swayam Shiksha Prayog (SSP), Pune, Maharashtra
  11. The Goat Trust (TGT) Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

 Knowledge Partnership:

  1. Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI)
  2. Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology (ANDUAT), Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh
  3. Bihar Animal Sciences University (BASU), Patna, Bihar
  4. Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (CSKHPKV), Palampur, Himachal Pradesh.
  5. Flying Anvil Foundation India (FAFI)
  6. G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology (GBPUAT), Pant Nagar, Uttarakhand
  7. Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana, Punjab
  8. Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Science (LUVAS), Hisar, Haryana
  9. Kamdhenu University (KU), Gandhinagar, Gujarat
  10. Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Sciences University (MAFSU), Nagpur, Maharashtra
  11. Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVAS), Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
  12. Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology (SKUAST-J), Jammu, J & K
  13. University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology (TDU), Bengaluru, Karnataka
  14. Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi, Chhattisgarh

Find out more about our work in India

Tel: +91 120 2400404
[email protected]
Joy Tower, C-20/1-A/1, Sector 62, Noida - 201301, Uttar Pradesh, India.

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