New Delhi | PETA on Wednesday said that it has "rescued" 150 animals from families reliant on them for their livelihood and gave them e-rickshaws so that they have a "better source of income".

The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), India distributed 24 e-rickshaws to people in exchange of livestock owned by them, which included cows, bulls and horses.

The keys of the e-rickshaws were distributed by Aam Aadmi Party councillor Shivani Panchal during an event here.

PETA is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) that advocates for animal rights.

"Our initiative aims to provide e-rickshaws in exchange of animals to not just save animals from cruelty but also help owners of these livestock to get a better source of income," Poorva Joshipura, director of PETA, told PTI.

She said some of these animals also carry diseases and pose a threat to human life. The organisation has rescued a total of 150 livestock across Delhi since 2018, she added.

Joshipura said the first animal that was rescued under the programme by the NGO was a horse.

Ram Prasad, who exchanged his horse during the event, told PTI: "This is a great opportunity for me as now I have a better source of income. I used to feel bad for my horse but I had no choice because I had to earn for my family."

"I was dependent on a bullock cart for my family's survival and it was hard for us to sustain with the income. So I exchanged my bull for an e-rickshaw last year," said Kalicharan.

According to the NGO, the rescued livestock are sent to various shelters homes in different states, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka.