New Delhi: Interested in saving tax? Try adopting a wild animal.
Faced with an acute financial crunch, the Nandankanan Zoo authorities in Orissa have come up with a unique scheme to raise money from animal lovers and reward donors with tax benefits.
Under this scheme, one can actually own the rare animal species kept in the zoo — each one of them, from the small and the large to the gentle and the fierce. The zoo says it will allow visitors to adopt any of its 12,000 animals and birds by paying an annual sum of money.
A small bird, for instance, can be adopted for as less as Rs 500 per annum. But if you do not want to settle for anything less than the tiger, then you have to pay as much as RS 1 lakh per annum. But no one is complaining.
Once you adopt an animal, you get a special entry pass — your key to check on your pets. Your suggestions for improving the living conditions of a particular animal will be heeded to and your name will appear on the cage. The big bonus: you get tax exemption on the money you spend on the adopted animal.
"We are also encouraging corporates to adopt animals and get tax benefits. At the same time we also encourage children to adopt a small bird by paying a small amount. The idea is not just to raise money, but to make people involved in the zoo development,"
the Director of Nandankanan Zoo, Ajit Patnaik, explains.
The zoo is currently facing a deficit of Rs 100 crore per annum. And zoo authorities hope the new scheme could bail them out of this financial mess. Visitors appear keen about this unique scheme.
From a small boy to an animal lover from California, a large section of people are showing interest in adopting zoo animals.
"I am a great animal lover and if I am given the option, I will definitely like to adopt an animal in this zoo. This is a very good scheme," Dilip Patel, an animal lover, says.
But the state government might just play dampener in the scheme. Though the scheme has been approved by the income tax department, it is yet to get a go-ahead from the state government. Sources say, even if the government eventually agrees to the plan, it could take another couple of months before animal lovers actually get to 'own' zoo animals.
Comments
0 comment