Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has made history by establishing the Animal Welfare Society of JNU (AWS-JNU), becoming the first university in India to set up a statutory body exclusively dedicated to animal welfare.
The society has been formed under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, in alignment with directives from the Ministry of Education, the University Grants Commission (UGC), and the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
AWS-JNU will be chaired by Piyush Pratap Singh, Associate Dean of Students (III) and Chairperson of JNU’s Animal Birth Control Committee. The body will include faculty, staff, students, and external experts such as activist Gauri Maulekhi and Vipul Jain from the PAWS Foundation.
The newly formed society aims to integrate compassion, sustainability, and biodiversity conservation into campus life. Its initiatives will include:
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Setting up animal feeding zones
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Conducting awareness and outreach campaigns
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Promoting student internships with SPCAs and veterinary hospitals
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Encouraging research on animal law, ecology, and human-animal conflict management
Vice Chancellor Pandit highlighted that this initiative will serve as a model for other universities. “It brings together education, sustainable living, and biodiversity conservation while fulfilling our constitutional duty under Article 51A(g)—to show compassion for all living creatures,” she stated.
The move reflects JNU’s growing commitment to sustainability and positions the institution at the forefront of ethical and ecological academic practices in India.
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