Lok Sabha Question No. 1604 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-11
Subject: Animal Welfare Board of India
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Bhagirath Chaudhary

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1604 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH  FEBRUARY, 2020

## ANIMAL WELFARE BOARD OF INDIA

1604.   SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY

## Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) the date on which the Animal Welfare Board of India was set up;
- (b) the details of the sphere of its activities;
- (c) the number of the cow shelters which have been granted recognition and funds for their operation, tin sheds and ambulances that have been allocated by the said Board during the last five years;
- (d) the details including the names of such cow shelters, State-wise and year-wise;
- (e) whether it is a fact that applications seeking recognition and assistance submitted by the organisations/cow shelters of Rajasthan are pending with the Board;
- (f) if so, the time since when the said applications have been pending; and
- (g) the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING  (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

- (a): The Animal Welfare Board of India was set up under Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (59 of 1960) on 19 th March, 1962.
- (b): As per the Section 9, the main functions/ activities of the Board are given hereunder:
- i. To keep the law in force in India for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals under constant study and to advise the Government on the amendments to be undertaken in any such law from time to time.
- ii. To  advise  the  Central  Government  on  the  making  of  rules  under  the  Act  with  a  view  to preventing unnecessary pain or suffering to animals generally, and more particularly when they are being transported from one place to another or when they are used as performing animals or when they are kept in captivity or confinement.
- iii. To  advise  the  Government  or  any  local  authority  or  other  person  on  improvements  in  the design of vehicles so as to lessen the burden on draught animals.
- iv. To take all such steps as the Board may think fit (for amelioration of suffering of animals) by encouraging or providing for the construction of sheds, water troughs and the like and by providing for veterinary assistance to animals.
- v. To advise the Government or any local authority or other person in the design of slaughter houses or the maintenance of slaughter houses in connection with slaughter of animals so that  unnecessary  pain  or  suffering,  whether  physical  or  mental,  is  eliminated  in  the  preslaughter stages as far as possible, and animals are killed; wherever necessary, in as humane a manner as possible.
- vi. To  take  all  such  steps  as  the  Board  may  think  fit  to  ensure  that  unwanted  animals  are destroyed by local authorities, whenever it is necessary to do so, either instantaneously or after being rendered insensible to pain or suffering.
- vii. To encourage by the grant of financial assistance or otherwise, the formation or establishment  of  Pinjarapoles,  rescue  homes,  animals  shelters,  sanctuaries  and  the  like, where animals and birds may find a shelter when they have become old and useless or when they need protection.
- viii. To  co-operate with, and co-ordinate the work of associations or bodies established for the purpose  of  preventing  unnecessary  pain  or  suffering  to  animals  or  for  the  protection  of animals and birds.
- ix. To give financial and other assistance to Animal Welfare Organisations functioning in any local area or to encourage the formation of Animal Welfare Organisations in any local area which shall work under the general supervision and guidance of the Board.
- x. To advise the Government on matters relating to the medical care and attention which may be  provided  in  animal  hospitals,  and  to  give  financial  and  other  assistance  to  animal hospitals whenever the Board thinks it necessary to do so.
- xi. To  impart  education  in  relation  to  the  humane  treatment  of  animals  and  to  encourage  the formation of public opinion against the infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering to animals and for the promotion of animal welfare by means of lectures, books, posters, cinematographic exhibitions and the like.
- xii. To advise the Government on any matter connected with animal welfare or the prevention of infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering on animals.

(c)  &(d):  The  number  of  Animal  Welfare  Organizations  (AWOs)  which  have  been  granted recognition from the AWBI is 3596. The details including the names of such cow shelters, Statewise,  year-wise  and  grant-in-aid  released  during  the  last  five  years  under  the  scheme  of  Regular Grant  for  the  operation  of  AWOs,  under  the  scheme  for  construction  of  Shelter  home  for  the animals in distress and under the scheme of Ambulance is being collected and will be laid on the table of the House.

(e) : Yes.

(f)  &(g)  :  The  details  regarding  pending  proposals  of  Rajasthan  seeking  recognition,  financial assistance  under  Shelter  Home,  Ambulance  and  Regular  grant  during  last  three  years  is  being collected and will be laid on the table of the House.

*****