Lok Sabha Question No. 2499 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-06
Subject: Livestock Legislation
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Vishaldada Prakashbapu Patil

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2499

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 TH  AUGUST, 2024

## LIVESTOCK LEGISLATION

## 2499 SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL:

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

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning to bring a new Livestock Legislation as the earlier one was withdrawn, if so, the details thereof;

(b)  the  action  taken  to  address  the  concerns  related  to  animal  welfare,  and  the  livelihoods  of caste-oppressed communities who are primary caretakers of indigenous livestock; and (c)  the  details  of  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  protect  and  promote  indigenous livestock breeds, many of which are facing decline while balancing the needs of export-oriented policies and the livelihoods of traditional animal rearers?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

- (a) No Sir.
- (b) The Country has enacted Prevention to Cruelty to Animal Act, 1960. The Act provides for  penalty  against  the  cruelty  to  animal.  However,  the  Act  has  also  exemption  for  the commission  or  omission  of  any  act  in  the  course  of  the  destruction  or  the  preparation  for destruction  of  any  animal  as  food  for  mankind  unless  such  destruction  or  preparation  was accompanied by the infliction of unnecessary pain and suffering. Government of India has also framed various Rules like  Transportation  of  Animals  Rules,  1978  (amended  time  to  time)  for Transportation of Animals.

Further,  the  animal  welfare  board  of  India  has  issued  the  following  advisory  and  guidelines under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 concerning animal welfare:

-  Guidelines for Animal Shelters with regard to Veterinary facilities dated 09.06.2022.
-  General  Awareness  in  regard  to  the  Lumpy  (Skin)  Disease  in  Cattle/Bovine  dated 05.08.2022.
-  Request to make adequate number of animal crematorium and incinerator in each district of  every  state  and  UTs  to  dispose  the  cadavers  in  environmentally  acceptable  manner dated 02.08.2022.
-  Standard  Operating  Procedure  for  using  equines  as  pack  animals  in  hilly/mountainous terrain dated 29.08.2022.

The  above  mentioned  advisories  are  helpful  for  the  farmers  and  caretakers  of  the  animals  to address the issue of animal welfare and livelihood of the primary caretakers. Further, the Animal

Welfare  Board  of  India  is  also  making  awareness  amongst  the  Animal  Welfare  activist sensitizing them not to intervene the farming system of the primary animal care takers.

(c) The Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) is implemented for development and conservation of indigenous  bovine  breeds  since  December  2014.  The  scheme  is  important  in  enhancing  milk production and productivity of bovines to meet growing demand of milk and making dairying more remunerative to the rural farmers of the country. Further, National  Livestock Mission is implemented for genetic upgradation of sheep, goat, pig, poultry mainly of indigenous breeds.

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