Meghalaya environment min to get PETA award for "vegan leather" initiative

Shillong | Wednesday | 13th October, 2021

Summary:

Shillong, Oct 13 (PTI) PETA India has decided to confer on Meghalaya Environment Minister James P K Sangma the Progressive Business Concept Award for his plans to produce "vegan leather" in the northeastern state, officials said on Wednesday.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) volunteers in Meghalaya will soon hand over the award to the minister, they said.

Sangma had recently announced in Hyderabad that the Meghalaya government plans to produce leather using pineapples found abundantly in the hilly state.

He had said the administration is also planning to open a climate change museum and introduce the subject in school curricula.

"In recognition of his plans to help local farmers by encouraging vegan pineapple-leather production – a move that will also protect animals and the environment, PETA India has decided to confer upon him the Progressive Business Concept Award," PETA India Senior Campaigns Coordinator Radhika Suryavanshi told PTI.

The minister has rightly identified the climate crisis as a "defining challenge of our times" and he"s already taking steps to address one of the biggest culprits -- animal agriculture, she said.