KVIC 'Catapults' Dangerous Toys, Receives Award From PETA
Khadi and Village Industries Commission Cites Motto and Mission as It Calls for a Ban on the Sale of Catapults
Tweet-- PETA India was delighted to hear that the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has recommended a ban on catapults, or slingshots – popular but very destructive weapons. For their decision to follow in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi, whose philosophy of non-violence to all beings characterizes KVIC's mission, PETA is bestowing its "Proggy" Award on the commission.
"Proggy Awards are given to businesses and individuals who implement progressive and humane business practices that take animals into consideration", says PETA India's Ashish Verma. "This is our way of saying 'Thank you.'"
Children all over India have been aiming catapults at birds, cows, dogs and other animals, often blinding or killing them, and wildlife is fast disappearing from these areas. Children form ammunition from "sun-hardened mud mixed with crushed glass, metal balls, marbles or stones", according to Member of Parliament Smt Maneka Gandhi.
Smt Gandhi also states that the rubber used to make catapults is smuggled from Myanmar. This rubber makes slingshots more lethal, enabling shooters to send the shots, or gullen, faster and farther than rubber taken from old tires, which was used in the past.
For more information and to view a list of other Proggy winners in India, please visit PETAIndia.com.