Chandigarh: The Animal Care Organization (TACO), a flagship animal welfare initiative under the Anil Agarwal Foundation, dedicated a corpus of INR 100 crores today towards bolstering animal welfare in Haryana through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Shri Nayab Singh, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Haryana. As part of the MoU, TACO will undertake the upgradation of the Government Veterinary Hospital in Gurugram into a 24×7 multi-speciality animal hospital and commence the construction of an animal birth control (ABC) unit, laboratory, pharmacy, training centre and shelter for extremely critical animals in Haryana. The facility is spread over 2 acres in Kadipur, Gurugram.
The MoU marks a monumental step towards the improvement of animal welfare services in Haryana with the state government inking a 10-year-long collaboration with the Anil Agarwal Foundation. As part of the collaboration, TACO will also deploy an ambulance and an advanced mobile health van to provide emergency care services at the doorstep.
Notably, TACO’s initiatives encompass a holistic approach to ‘One Health’, recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment. The organization’s shelter in Faridabad, Haryana, is home to 160+ animals, including cows, bulls, and dogs, focusing on rescue, rehabilitation, advanced veterinary care and overall well-being. Since its inception in 2022, it has treated more than 60,000 animals through its health camps, rescued almost 5,000 animals during the Delhi and Haryana floods, and supported over 460 members of the farmer community through animal OPD services. Furthermore, TACO’s dedication extends to education and training through the TACO Academy, which conducts sessions for veterinarians and paraprofessionals. TACO also supports and strengthens veterinary healthcare services through OPD and ambulance services.