Lok Sabha Question No. 1705 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-06
Subject: Shelter for Animals
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: PONNUSAMY VENUGOPAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, DAIRYING AND FISHERIES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1705 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 TH  MARCH, 2018

## SHELTER FOR ANIMALS

## 1705. DR P. VENUGOPAL:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is true that a fourth of India's dairies had no shelter for animals and all of these dairies housed sick and injured animals, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is also true that nearly 55% of dairy owners allowed their sick animals to be milked, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is also true that there was also minimal veterinary care and indiscriminate use of Oxytoxin across the country; and
- (d) d) if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## (SHRIMATI KRISHNA RAJ)

(a) & (b)  As informed by Animal Welfare Board of India under Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change,   'regulation of cattle dairies are done by the State Government as per the Prevention of Cruelty  to  Animals  (Registration  of  Cattle  Premises)  Rules,  1978  and  no  information  is  available  with Board on the issue'. However, Indian dairy is characterised by small holder dairy system where herd size is ranging from 1-2 milch animals to supplement the rural household income.

(c) to (d) The veterinary services and veterinary care are mandate of the State Governments. However, in order  to  complement  and  supplement  the  efforts  made  by  the  States,  Government  of  India  is implementing  Livestock  Health  and  Disease  Control  programme.  The  Drug  Controller  of  India  had informed misuse of Oxytocin by dairy owners reported in various forum including in print and electronic media. The  Department  also  received  some  reports  from  various  sources.   The  Department  of  Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries had issued advisories to all State Governments/ Union Territories to build close liaison with State Drug Controller to check the clandestine use of oxytocin by the dairy owners. Further, all the State Animal Husbandry Departments had been requested to utilize extension services/facilities to undertake information, education and communication campaign for educating farmers about harmful effects of misuse of oxytocin on milch animals which also amounts to cruelty to animals.

The Department of Animal Husbandry had also written a letter Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to review their notification and consider appropriate action on marketing of oxytocin for veterinary purposes.

The  Drug  Controller  General  of  India  reported  that  following measures  had been  taken  under  the provisions  of  the  Drugs  and  Cosmetics  Act,1940  and  Rules  made  thereunder  to  prevent  misuse  of oxytocin:

(a) Oxytocin formulation is permitted to be manufactured and sold in single unit blister pack only ;

(b) Under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (23 of 1940),  a notification has been issued vide GSR no. 29 (E) dated 17/01/2014, to regulate and restrict the manufacture, sale and distribution of the  Oxytocin  in  the  country  and  to  prevent  its  misuse,  directing  that  the  drug  Oxytocin  shall  be manufactured for sale or for distribution or sold in the following manner:

(i)   The  manufacturers  of  bulk  oxytocin  drug  shall  supply  the  active  pharmaceutical  drug  only  to  the manufacturers licensed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 for manufacture of formulations of the said drug and

(ii) The formulations meant for veterinary use shall be sold to the veterinary hospitals only.

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