Lok Sabha Question No. 164 (STARRED), answered on 2020-03-03
Subject: Stray Cattle
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Prasun Banerjee

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO 164

TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  MARCH, 2020

## STRAY CATTLE

*164 SHRI PRASUN BANERJEE:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपाऱन , पशुपाऱन और डेयरी मंत्री

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether it is a fact that there are a large number of old cattle in the country that are a burden on their owners; and
- (b) the steps taken/being taken to reduce the number of stray cattle?

## THE MINISTER FOR FISHERIES ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## ANSWER (SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH)

- (a) & (b) Statement is laid on the table of the house

## STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY OF LOKSABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.87 PART (a) to (b) ON STRAY CATTLE

(a) No Sir

(b)   As per the Article 246(3) of the Constitution of India, preservation, protection and improvement of stock and prevention of animal diseases; veterinary training and practice is under State list on which the State has exclusive power to make laws for such State or any part thereof with respect to any of the matters enumerated in List II of the Seventh Schedule.

As per Article 243(W) of Constitution of India, the local municipality is responsible for cattle pounds and prevention of cruelty to animals. As per the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution  of  India,  the  Panchyat  is  responsible  for  animal  husbandry,  dairying  and poultry.  Therefore,  the  State  may  endow  panchayats  to  establish  and  run  Cattle  Pounds (Kanji  Houses)/  Gaushala  Shelters  (community  assets)  to  keep  the  stray  cattle.  Many States have established Gaushalas and Shelter houses for keeping of stray cattle and also provides funds for feeding of those animals.

In view of the above mentioned constitutional provisions, the State is empowered to take appropriate  action  on  the  stray  animals.  Further,  the  Animal  Welfare  Board  has  issued advisory on stray animals to all the State Governments/ Union Territories vide its letter dated  12 th July,  2018.  The  Animal  Welfare  Board  encourages  such  organizations  by providing  grants-in-aid  for  taking  care  of  the  animals  with  the  budget  provided  by Government of India.

Further, in order to utilize the unproductive animals, dry dairy is promoted. Further, the unproductive  female  animals  are  used  as  surrogate  mother  for  production  of  calves through Embryo Transfer Technology. Rastriya Kamdhenu Aayog has been established by the Government to advice the Government on conservation of cattle.

It  has  been  observed  that  the  farmers  are  leaving  the  male  animals  as  these  animals cannot be used by the farmers. In order to tackle the problem the Central Government is implementing  sex  sorting  semen  technology  under  the  Rashtriya  Gokul  Mission  for artificial insemination of cattle. This technology will help produce female calves only. The number of male cattle will reduce gradually over a period of time.