Lok Sabha Question No. 2328 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-03
Subject: Animal Welfare Board of India
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Rahul Kaswan

## MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2328 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  AUGUST, 2021

## ANIMAL WELFARE BOARD OF INDIA

2328. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपाऱन , पशुपाऱन और डेयरी मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a)  the target and the objective of the Animal Welfare Board of India;
- (b) the details of the schemes being implemented by the Government and Animal Welfare Board of India for the welfare of both farmers and stockbreeders in the country; and
- (c)    the  details  of  the  funds  allocated  to  many  States  including  the  State  of  Rajasthan  for  the development of stockbreeders during each of the last three years?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  The establishment of the Animal Welfare Board of India is for the promotion of animal welfare generally and for the purpose of protecting animals from being subjected to unnecessary pain or suffering, in particular.  The functions/objective of the Board are:
- i. to keep the law in force in India for the prevention of cruelty to animals under constant study and 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 this 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  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  in  the  maintenance  of  slaughter-houses  or  in  connection  with slaughter of animals so that unnecessary pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is eliminated in the pre-slaughter 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  pinjrapoles,  rescue  homes,  animal  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.

(b) & (c) The Animal Welfare Board of India is not implementing any scheme for the welfare of farmers and stock breeders. However, the schemes implemented by the Animal Welfare Board for the welfare of animals are as under:

- 1) REGULAR  GRANT:  : Animal  Welfare  Board  of  India  provides  financial  assistance  to therecognized  Animal  Welfare  Organisations  as  regular  grants  towards  maintenance  of  animal shelters, animals medicines, purchase of medical equipments and conducting of veterinary camps etc  and  rescued  cattle  maintenance  grant  for  maintenance  of  the  animals  rescued  from  illegal transportation / slaughter houses. The regular grant is being given on the basis of no. of animals sheltered  /  treated  /  rescued  by  the  Animal  Welfare  Organization  duly  verified  by  the  Animal Husbandry Department.
- 2) Scheme for Shelter House for looking after the animals :  Under this scheme assistance are provided to establish and maintain shelter houses for distressed animals in the country. Primarily, Non-Governmental  Organizations  (NGOs)  and  Society  for  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to  Animals (SPCAs) are given grants for construction of boundary walls, shelter, water tank, drains, in-house Dispensary,  medical  equipment,  contingencies  etc.  for  a  maximum  grant  of  Rs.22.50  lakhs excluding  10%  of  contribution  from  AWOs.  The  Components  wise  details  of  the  Grant  are  as below:
- 3)  Scheme for Animal Birth Control (ABC) & Immunization of Stray Dogs: The scheme is meant for controlling the population of stray dogs by sterilization and reducing incidence of rabies by immunization. Non-Governmental Organisations, Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and  local  bodies  are  eligible  for  this  grant.   Under  this  scheme  financial  assistance  is  given @Rs.370/- per dog for pre & post- operative care, including medicines and Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV); and Rs.75/- per dog for catching and relocation of the dog. The grant-in-aid for ABC is to be released in two instalments.

| S.No.   | Component                                    |   Rs. (In Lakhs) |
|---------|----------------------------------------------|------------------|
| (i)     | Cost of boundary Wall with man proof fencing |             3    |
| (ii)    | Cost of construction of in house dispensary  |             3    |
| (iii)   | Cost of Medical equipment                    |             1.25 |
| (iv)    | Cost of construction of Shelters             |            13    |
| (v)     | Cost of construction of water tank (s)       |             1.75 |
| (vi)    | Cost of construction of drains               |             1.75 |
| (vii)   | Contingencies                                |             1.25 |
|         | Total:                                       |            25    |

4) Scheme for Provision of Ambulance Services to Animals in Distress: Under this scheme the animal welfare organizations are given grants for purchase of suitable vehicles for transportation, rescue  and  also  for  providing  emergency  services  to  animals  in  distress.Non-Governmental Organisations are assisted to the extent of 90% of the cost of a suitable vehicle and equipment and fitting  thereon.  The  maximum  amount of grant-in-aid is  limited to  Rs.3.50  lakhs  for  purchase  of vehicle and Rs.1.00 lakhs for equipment and fitting thereon. 5)  Scheme  for  Relief  to  Animals  during  Natural  Calamities: Every  year,  there  are  natural calamities  in  the  form  of  flood,  drought,  earthquake  etc.  In  such  circumstances,  there  is  an immediate requirement for provision of fodder, the adequate shelter, medical attention etc. for the affected  animals.  Funds  for  relief  to  such  animals  are  provided  under  this  scheme  through  the

AWOs.

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