Nikunj Sharma on the animal advocacy movement in India and how to successfully expand organisations internationally
Jul 7, 2023
auto_awesome
Nikunj Sharma, CEO of Mercy for Animals India, discusses animal advocacy in India, expanding globally, and the influence of religion. They also mention the importance of policy changes, media campaigns, and sustainable farming practices.
Focusing on farm animals in advocacy work is crucial due to the vast numbers suffering globally.
Challenges of animal advocacy in India include cultural sensitivity, policy implementation, and addressing religious beliefs.
Mercy for Animals India focuses on advocating for the banning of gestation and farming crates, with progress made in implementing bans across states.
Deep dives
The importance of prioritizing farm animal advocacy
Nikun Sharma, CEO of Mercy for Animals India, discusses the importance of focusing on farm animals in advocacy work. He highlights the sheer number of animals suffering in factory farms in India and globally, emphasizing the need for dedicated resources and policy changes to improve their welfare.
Nikun Sharma's journey to animal advocacy
Nikun Sharma shares his personal journey to becoming an animal rights activist and how he transitioned to focusing on farm animals. He explains the impact of realizing the extent of animal abuse in the food industry in India and the lack of organizations addressing this issue, which led him to join Mercy for Animals.
Challenges and opportunities of doing animal advocacy work in India
Nikun Sharma discusses the unique challenges and opportunities of doing animal advocacy work in India. He highlights the informal market structure, the need for policy implementation, and the influence of cultural and religious beliefs on attitudes towards animals. He stresses the importance of approaching advocacy with cultural sensitivity and engaging in constructive dialogue.
Mercy for Animals' focus on gestation and farming crate bans
Nikun Sharma explains that Mercy for Animals India is currently focused on advocating for the banning of gestation and farming crates across India. He shares the progress made so far, with 22 out of 36 states implementing bans. The organization uses tactics such as public demonstrations, engaging with government officials, and collaborating with other groups to achieve these victories.
The vision for a more sustainable and compassionate future
Nikun Sharma expresses his vision for a more sustainable and compassionate future in India. He emphasizes the need for innovative solutions like cultivated meat and plant-based alternatives to reduce animal suffering, promote environmental conservation, and address public health concerns. He also encourages collaboration with tech startups and international organizations to drive these changes forward.
In this episode, we speak to Nikunj Sharma, the CEO of Mercy for Animals India. We spoke about:
The work of Mercy for Animals in India, and their victories so far
The considerations for animal advocacy organisations, like Mercy for Animals, to expand into new countries rather and how this trades off with the existence of local organisations.
The specific cultural context for animal advocacy work in India
A few of the resources mentioned in our conversation:
If you enjoy the show, please leave a rating and review us - we would really appreciate it! Likewise, feel free to share it with anyone who you think might enjoy it. You can send us feedback and guest recommendations via Twitter or email us at hello@howilearnedtoloveshrimp.com. Enjoy!
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
