THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

JAMNAGAR, OCTOBER 6, 2026

Reliance Industries Executive Director and philanthropist Anant M. Ambani on Tuesday launched ‘Champions of Care’, a national initiative aimed at strengthening community animal welfare by bringing together more than 50 animal welfare organisations from across India.

Launched on the occasion of World Animal Day, the Vantara initiative seeks to support organisations working with community dogs and cats, abandoned and working animals such as cattle, donkeys and horses, as well as animals rescued from injury, neglect and abandonment.

The initiative is expected to enable veterinary care, rescue, shelter, feeding and long-term support for around two million animals across the country every year. It will also support responsible population management of community dogs and cats, including animal birth control programmes.

Eight members of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), the statutory advisory body mandated to promote animal welfare in the country, also participated in the gathering.

 “Every day, there are countless people who quietly care for animals in need, often with limited resources and little recognition, but with immense compassion. Their work reminds us that kindness has no boundaries and that every life deserves care, protection and dignity,” Ambani said.

 “Through Champions of Care, we hope to stand alongside this work, strengthen the care available to community animals and help build a more compassionate India. For us, this is what Every Life Matters truly means,” he said.

The initiative was unveiled during a two-day gathering at Vantara, where participating organisations discussed challenges faced on the ground and explored ways to strengthen their capabilities through collaboration, knowledge sharing and practical support.

On the first day, delegates visited Vantara's specialised facilities for rescued elephants and big cats, including lions, tigers and leopards, as well as naturalistic habitats for free-roaming herbivores such as bison, zebras and antelopes.

The visit showcased practices relating to nutrition, veterinary care, housing, enrichment and lifelong animal care, which organisers said could also offer relevant learnings for community animal welfare.

The second day focused on dialogue among participating organisations, with representatives sharing their experiences, identifying common challenges and discussing areas where additional support could make a sustained difference.

As part of the initiative, Vantara and all participating animal welfare organisations signed a Letter of Understanding, formalising their commitment to collaborate on community animal welfare.

The framework will facilitate knowledge sharing, capacity building and practical support, with solutions designed around the needs identified by organisations working on the ground.

Support under Champions of Care will cover areas including infrastructure, animal housing, ambulances and mobile veterinary services, rescue equipment, diagnostic and treatment facilities, training and capacity building, and infrastructure for lifelong animal care.

The initiative will also support sustainability measures such as solar power systems, rainwater harvesting and improved drainage at animal welfare facilities.

Some participating organisations have proposed education and awareness programmes for children and young people, while others have identified the need for quarantine and disease-management infrastructure amid the growing prevalence of infectious diseases.

S P Gupta, former chairman and current member of AWBI, praised Ambani's initiative, saying the effort recognised the work of animal welfare organisations while also seeking to strengthen their ability to deliver care.

 “I deeply appreciate Shri Anant Ambani Ji’s vision and leadership in bringing Champions of Care to life,” Gupta said, adding that he was particularly impressed by Ambani's efforts to listen to organisations, understand their challenges and respond with practical and sustainable solutions.

Each participating organisation was also presented with a Certificate of Appreciation signed by Ambani in recognition of its contribution to animal welfare.

Champions of Care is envisaged as a growing national network, with more animal welfare organisations expected to join in the coming years. The initiative aims to create a stronger platform for organisations to share expertise, build capacity and develop coordinated responses to the needs of community animals.

The programme is positioned as an extension of Vantara's ‘Every Life Matters’ philosophy, taking its focus beyond animals housed at the facility to community animals cared for by organisations across India.