Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Dr. R.M. Kharb AVSM

(Chairman,Animal Welfare Board of India Min. of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India)

Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Dr. R.M. Kharb, AVSM is a distinguished Veterinarian who has over four decades of professional excellence behind him. He was commissioned in Remount & Veterinary Corps. (RVC) on 1st Nov. 1962 and retired as Director General, RVC on 31st May, 2000. He completed 38 years of distinguished service in the Indian Army and for his outstanding services to the Nation he was honoured with Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) by the President of India on 26th January 1996. As a young captain of RVC, he successfully commanded two army dog units in counter - insurgency operations and has been decorated by the Chief of the Army Staff with his commendation medal.

He has the rare distinction of being the Panel Vet. of Federation Equestre International (FEI) and Equestrian Federation of India (EFI). In recognition of his valuable contribution to the advancement of Veterinary education and training in the Army, Gen. Kharb was awarded the Fellowship of the prestigious National Academy of Veterinary Sciences of India. He is well known for organising Veterinary Aid Camps for animals affected by sickness and by natural calamities through army Veterinary units located in remote and far flung areas on a regular basis. He is passionately committed to protecting the rights and welfare of India’s helpless and suffering animals.

For his outstanding contribution in the field of  Veterinary Services in the Indian Army, Gen. Kharb was appointed as Chairman of the Animal Welfare Board of India. Some of his distinguished achievements as Chairman of AWBI include, convincing the Veterinary Council of India (VCI) to introduce Animal Welfare as a separate subject in the curriculum of Veterinary Colleges in India. Besides, he has also succeeded in persuading the Govt. of India to extend support to the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW), which if adopted by the UN can significantly help to reduce the pain and suffering of millions of farm animals and birds in the country. Gen. Kharb has been instrumental in the launch of a programme titled ‘Rabies Free India’ which is currently under way in many metros in the country. Gen. Kharb has also successfully convinced the State of Tamil Nadu and several civic bodies as Municipal Corporation of Delhi, New Delhi Municipal Corporation, Shimla Municipal Corporation, Kolkata Municipal Corporation  and Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon to adopt the Participatory model of Animal Birth Control (ABC) Programme for Stray Dogs. To improve the quality of care given to stray dogs under the ABC programme, Gen. Kharb had organized a free training programme on clinical protocols of ABC surgery for vets, paravets, and dog catchers at the National Institute of Animal Welfare. He has also played a key role in reviving the functioning of several State Animal Welfare Boards (SAWB) in States like Uttarakhand, Kerala,  Punjab and Haryana. Other important milestones achieved by the Chairman, AWBI include initiating a programme for modernization of gaushalas in the country through utilisation of biomass for biogas and electricity production.

PeTA India has honoured the Chairman with its prestigious Humanitarian Award of the year at Mumbai on 18th December, 2009 in its annual function for his rich contribution for promoting Animal Welfare programmes in India.
Gen. Kharb is also the author of a very popular book titled, ‘Dog Care Made Easy’ that has been published by ROLI Books.

For more details contact:

National Headquarters

Animal Welfare Board of India
13/1, 3rd Seaward Road, Valmiki Nagar
Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai - 600 041
Phone: 044-24571024 / 24571025 Fax: 044-24571016  
Email: awbi@md3.vsnl.net.in

Camp Office at Gurgaon
3767, Sector 23, Gurgaon 122 017
Phone: 0124-4105664
Email: rmkawbi@yahoo.co.in