Lok Sabha Question No. 1450 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-07
Subject: Eradication of Rabies
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor, Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya, Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY & DAIRYING

## DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY & DAIRYING LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1450

TO BE ANSWERED ON 7 TH  DECEMBER, 2021

## ERADICATION OF RABIES

## 1450: SHRI JASWANT SINGH BHABHOR: SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA: SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## मत्स्यपाऱन , पशुपाऱन और डेयरी मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) the efforts being made by the Government for eradication of rabies;
- (b) the time by which this disease is likely to be eradicated completely;
- (c) the  number  of  deaths  caused  by  the  said  disease  througout  the  country,  particularly  in Gujarat; and
- (d) the efforts being made by the Government to make aware the tribal communities of the State of Gujarat about said disease?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) Due to epidemiologic characteristic of rabies virus, Rabies cannot be eradicated. However, human deaths due to  Dog Mediated Rabies can be  reduced to zero. To  address Rabies  in  Human,  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare  has  launched  'National  Rabies Control Programme'.

In  collaboration with Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, NRCP Programme Division, NCDC, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has developed and launched the 'National Action Plan for Elimination of Dog Mediated Rabies from India by 2030"on 28 th September, 2021 under the 'One Health' approach indicating  specific roles of other key stakeholders viz. Ministry of  Environment,  Forest  &  Climate  Change,  Government  of  India;  Ministry  of  Housing  & Urban  Affairs,  Government  of  India;  Ministry  of  Panchayati  Raj  &  Rural  Development, Government of India and Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer Welfare, Government of India. It would serve as a technical guideline to all relevant stakeholders to share the responsibility of controlling Rabies.

Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying  provide  assistance  to  State  Governments  for  immunization  against  important livestock  diseases  including  Rabies,  Strengthening  of  State  Biological  Production  Centers, Strengthening of State Disease Diagnostic Labs, Training of Vets & Para-vets, conducting workshops,  surveillance  and  monitoring  of  animal  diseases,  mass  awareness  programmes, maintaining  the  cold  chain  system  under  the  scheme  Assistance  to  States  for  Control  of Animal Diseases (ASCAD) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).

Animal  Welfare Board of India also provides funding support to Animal  Welfare Organisations/  SPCAs  for  anti-rabies  immunization  and  sterilization  of  dogs  under  the Scheme for Birth Control and Immunization of Stray Dogs.

(c) As per the data provided by Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI) the National Nodal agency under Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, for year 2018, 116 Human deaths due to Rabies were reported in India, while no death was reported from the state of Gujarat due to Rabies.

As per the provisional data from CBHI, DGHS, MoH&FW in year 2019 the Human deaths in the country reported due to Rabies was 118, while in the state of Gujarat zero Human death is reported due to Rabies.

As per the data provided by  KVAFSU-CVA Rabies Diagnostic Laboratory, in 2019, total 386 animal deaths are reported in India, among which death of 56 dogs and 3 buffaloes are reported due to rabies in Gujarat.

(d) Through National Health Mission under National Rabies Control Program, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare; the funds are being released under NHM mechanism as per the state  PIP,  as  provided  to  all  the  states  for  generating  awareness  about  Rabies  in  all  the communities including Gujarat.

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