Lok Sabha Question No. 794 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-07
Subject: Roaming Cattle
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Mahua Moitra

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 794

TO BE ANSWERED ON 7 TH  FEBRUARY, 2023

## ROAMING CATTLE

## 794. SHRIMATI MAHUA MOITRA:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालनऔर डेयरी मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there are a lot of complaints about loose cattle roaming around;
- (b) if so, the reasons for loose cattle roaming and creating damage to farmer's fields;
- (c) the details of steps/recommendations of the Government to deal with such issue; and
- (d) the number of cattles which are actually in gaushalas?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a)  Yes  Sir.  There  are  complaints  from  many  citizens  and  in  various  print  and  electronic  media regarding increased number of loose cattle roaming around.
- (b)  Often,  male  and  unproductive  cattle  which  are  not  useful  to  the  farmers  are  left  unattended  as strays. Many States have imposed ban on cattle slaughtering and movement of cattle from outside the states. Therefore, the farmers are not able to resell the animals. These are the main reasons for increase in number of stray cattle on the roads.
- (c)   As per the Article 246(3) of Constitution of India, preservation, protection and improvement of stock and prevention of animal diseases; veterinary training and practice are under State list for which the States have exclusive powers to make laws.

As per Article 243(W) of Constitution of India, the local bodies are responsible for cattle pounds and pinjrapole. Therefore, the State should also endow panchayats to establish and run Cattle Pounds (Kanji  Houses)/  Gaushala  Shelters  (community  assets)  to  keep  stray  cattle.  Many  States  have established Gaushalas and Shelter houses for stray cattle and provide for feeding of those animals.

In view of the above mentioned constitutional provisions, the State is empowered to take appropriate action on stray animals. Further, in order to utilize the unproductive animals, dry dairy is promoted. AWBI is also driving awareness programmes for appropriate utilization of cattle dung and cattle urine to make different products so as to make cow shelters/gaushalas self-sustainable thereby ensuring that old and unproductive animal do not become stray.

In order to tackle the problem, in the long term, the Central Government is implementing sex sorted semen technology under Rashtriya Gokul Mission for artificial insemination of cattle. This technology will help produce female calves only so that the number of male cattle will reduce over the time.

Also  the  technology  is  available  to  produce  Bio  CNG  from  cow  dung.  Efforts  are  being  made  to promote such technology.  Many gaushalas and organizations are producing products from cow dung. Cow  dung  is  also  useful  for  cremation  and  it  will  reduce  the  use  of  tree  wood  and  help  in  tree conservation.

Further,  Animal  Welfare  Board  of  India  (AWBI)  has  issued  advisory  on  stray  animals  to  all  State Governments/ Union Territories (vide its letter dated 12 th July, 2018). AWBI encourages organizations which keep stray animals by providing grants-in-aid for taking care of the animals within the budget provided by Government of India.

(d) Information is not maintained.