MUMBAI, May 5 (TOI): Activists from across the country have urged the government to drop the clause that allows use of wild species for religious and cultural practices from the draft wildlife policy.

The policy was circulated by the union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) in February this year. It states that traditional practices involving wild animals are prevalent and in almost all cases there are confrontations between enforcement authorities and communities over it. It says that it is desirable to distinguish between hunting and specified religious/cultural practices of communities involving wild/scheduled animals and regulations for appropriate safeguards and prevention of cruelty can be provided in the Act.

NGOs such as Bombay Natural History Society, India, Traffic (India) at WWF, New Delhi, Aaranyak, Wildlife Protection Society of India and Wildlife Society of Orissa have strongly opposed the clause, saying it is in contravention to the spirit of the Constitution. In a letter to the MoEF, the NGOs have pointed out that Section 25 of the Right to Religious Freedom Act, which is subject to public order, morality and health, says, "Nothing in this article shall affect the operation of any existing law or prevent the state from making any law regulating or restricting any economic, financial, political or other secular activity, which may be associated with religious practice."

"They are cruel and barbaric, and have been banned in India for several years. This is the evolution of society's conscience at large and should not be regressed upon," they said.