Lok Sabha Question No. 416 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-05
Subject: Attacks by Stray Dogs
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Pratima Mondal

Government of India Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 416 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 th  DECEMBER 2023

## ATTACKS BY STRAY DOGS

## 416. SHRIMATI PRATIMA MONDAL:

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

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has adopted any scientific management system to control stray dog population in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has noticed a large number of attacks by stray dogs in all parts of the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  review  the  present  Animal  Birth  Control Rules;
- (f) if so, the details thereof;
- (g) whether the World Health Organization (WHO) finding is true that India accounted above 36% of world rabies deaths; and
- (h) if so, the details thereof and the details of steps taken to check such alarming situation?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a) As on date only scientific method adopted for control of Stray Dogs population is through sterilization by surgical intervention.
- (b) The Central Government has notified the Animal Birth Control Rules 2023 vide G.S.R. 193(E)  dated  10 th March,  2023  under  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to  Animals  Act,  1960  after superseding the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001 to control the population of Stray Dogs.  The  Rules  have  addressed  the  direction  of  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  of  India  in  writ petition no. 691 of 2009 between Animal Welfare Board of India and People for Elimination of  Stray  Troubles,  which  states  that  " Needless  to  emphasize,  no  innovative  method  or subterfuge should be adopted not to carry out the responsibility under the 1960 Act or the

2001 Rules. Any kind of laxity while carrying out statutory obligations, is not countenanced in law ".

The AWBI had issued the Revised ABC Module as per the direction of the Supreme Court  in  the  year  2015  for  Street  Dog  Population  Management,  Rabies  Eradication  and Reducing Man-Animal conflict. The module elaborates Scientific process to be adopted for Sterilization.

(c) and (d): There are some sporadic reports of dog attacks happening in various parts of the Country. However, the information made available by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (National Centre for Disease Control) there has been reduction in number of dog attacks in comparison to the year 2018. The details are as under:

| Year                    |   Number of Dog Bite |
|-------------------------|----------------------|
| 2018                    |              7567811 |
| 2019                    |              7277523 |
| 2020                    |              4633493 |
| 2021                    |              1701133 |
| 2022                    |              2180185 |
| 2023(till October 2023) |              2477936 |

(e) to (f): The Animal Birth Control Rules have recently been published in the year 2023 after reviewing Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001

- (g) to (h): Yes Sir. As per WHO Association for the Prevention and Control of Rabies in India (APCRI)-2004 Study India accounts for 36% of World Rabies Deaths. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Jointly Launched National Action Plan for Dog Mediated Rabies Elimination in year 2021. Ministry of Health &  Family  Welfare  implementing  National  Rabies  Control  programme  Human  Health component. Funds are being provided to States & UTs through NHM to undertake Human health  Component  of  National  Rabies  Control  program.  Funds  are  provided  for  following activities
- a. Procurement of Rabies Vaccine & Rabies Immunoglobulin through National free drug Initiative
- b. Capacity Building
- c. Awareness Generation
- d. Surveillance & Monitoring

Also the Local bodies are carrying out Anti rabies vaccination of stray dogs alongwith Animal  Birth  Control  Programme.  Funds  are  also  made  available  to  the  State  Animal Husbandry Department for procurement of rabies vaccines as per need.