The animal rights activists led by the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had protested against certain activities mentioned in the class VI textbook—Elements of General Science— that encouraged children to do cruel things against animals.

For example, students were asked to do experiments like suffocating guinea pigs to understand the importance of air. Another similar horrific experiment asked students not to give water to birds to understand the need of water for sustaining life.

The PETA activists alleged that these activities were in contravention to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.The organisation had written a letter to school education minister Partho De way back on November 29, 2006 stating: “These experiments require animals to die of starvation or suffocation after enduring unnecessary suffering.”

Finding no steps initiated by the minister, the PETA then wrote to the WBBSE secretary on March 2, 2007 and sought information through an RTI from the board on May 19, 2007 on the issue.

The organisation then also sent a letter to the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Arjun Singh on July 4, 2007. Finally, the board ordered the modification in the syllabus through a letter dated February 18, 2008 where it informed all the publishers and the concerned departments about the necessary changes.

“In respect of experiments on animals about the necessity of food and Oxygen (Group -C Unit III of Class VI, General Science Syllabus) the authors must avoid discussions using rats/birds/toads. Instead they can use common pests like cockroach and common air breathing fish (Cat fish). No illustrations are required in such experiments,” the letter said.

Board secretary Swapan Sarkar told The Indian Express that a decision has been taken in this regard and the publishers have to make the necessary changes before the publication of new books for the next academic year.