Lok Sabha Question No. 3033 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-08
Subject: Stray Animals and Animal Shelters
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING LOK SABHA ADMITTED UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3033 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 TH  AUGUST, 2023

## STRAY ANIMALS AND ANIMAL SHELTERS

## 3033. SHRI SUKHBIR SINGH JAUNAPURIA:

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

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any data regarding the number of stray animals and animal shelters in the country, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the Government has fixed any budget in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  increase  the  number  of  animals  shelters  for  stray animals;
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  names  of  places  identified  in  Sawai  Madhopur,  Jaipur, Tonk and Kota districts of Rajasthan; and
- (e) whether any time limit has been fixed in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) As per basic animal husbandry statistics, total number of Gaushala in the country is 7676. The state-wise detailed list of gaushala is attached at Annexure-I . The Animal Welfare Board of  India  (AWBI) recognizes the Animal Welfare Organization including  Gaushalas  who are maintaining  animal  shelter.    As  on  date,  the  AWBI  has  recognized  3752  Animal  Welfare Organizations.  Out  of  which,  1584  are  Gaushalas  and  2168  are  the  Animal  Welfare Organizations.  The  data  regarding  number  of  cows  in  these  Gaushala  and  shelter  are  not maintained.

(b) There is no specific scheme is being implemented by the Central Government. The State Government, as per their mandate, are providing assistance for establishment of shelter to keep the stray animals. However, Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) is providing grants for Shelter House for looking after the animals, Procurement of Ambulance Services to rescue and treatment  of  Animals  in  Distress,  Relief  to  Animals  during  Natural  Calamities.  The  budget allocated for the above schemes in last 10 years are as below:

|   S.No. | Financial Year   | Shelter House Scheme   | Ambulanc e Scheme   | Natural Calamity   |   Regular and Rescue Cattle Grant |
|---------|------------------|------------------------|---------------------|--------------------|-----------------------------------|
|       1 | 2013-14          | -                      | 0.09                | 0.10               |                              5.36 |
|       2 | 2014-15          | 4.80                   | 1.15                | 0.03               |                              5.13 |
|       3 | 2015-16          | 1.40                   | 0.47                | 0.05               |                              5.62 |
|       4 | 2016-17          | -                      | -                   | -                  |                              2.57 |
|       5 | 2017-18          | 1.10                   | 0.25                | -                  |                              0.6  |
|       6 | 2018-19          | 1.99                   | 0.69                | 0.01               |                              2.49 |
|       7 | 2019-20          | 2.50                   | 0.15                | 0.02               |                              1.56 |
|       8 | 2020-21          | 1.50                   | 0.50                | -                  |                              1.3  |
|       9 | 2021-22          | 1.50                   | 0.50                | -                  |                              1.99 |
|      10 | 2022-23          | 0.75                   | 0.50                | 0.05               |                              4.45 |

(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  may  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,  the  Animal  Welfare  Board  of  India  is providing some assistance to establish Shelter by the Animal Board of India recognized Animal Welfare Organizations to establish shelter.

In addition, the Chief Secretary of all States / Union Territories was requested vide letter dated 27.03.2023 to provide adequate land and other facilities for setting up of infirmaries to the SPCA for the purpose of constructing infirmaries and animal shelters as per Prevention of Cruelty to Animals  (Establishment  and  Regulations  of  Societies  for  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to  Animals) Rules, 2001.

- (d)  No Sir. The Central Government has not identified any animal shelter in Sawai Madhopur, Jaipur, Tonk and Kota districts of Rajasthan.
- (e) Doesn't arise.

*****

## State-wise list of Gaushala in the country

| Sl. No.   | Name of the State           | Others   |
|-----------|-----------------------------|----------|
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh              | 56       |
| 2         | Arunachal Pradesh           |          |
| 3         | Assam                       | 16       |
| 4         | Bihar                       | 87       |
| 5         | Chhattisgarh                | 117      |
| 6         | Goa                         | 9        |
| 7         | Gujarat                     | 1418     |
| 8         | Haryana                     | 640      |
| 9         | Himachal Pradesh            | 221      |
| 10        | Jammu &Kashmir              | 36       |
| 11        | Jharkhand                   | 31       |
| 12        | Karnataka                   | 220      |
| 13        | Kerala                      | -        |
| 14        | Madhya Pradesh              | 905      |
| 15        | Maharashtra                 | 222      |
| 16        | Manipur                     |          |
| 17        | Meghalaya                   |          |
| 18        | Mizoram                     | Nil      |
| 19        | Nagaland                    | -        |
| 20        | Odisha                      | 93       |
| 21        | Punjab                      | 447      |
| 22        | Rajasthan                   | 2269     |
| 23        | Sikkim                      | -        |
| 24        | Tamil Nadu                  | 75       |
| 25        | Telangana                   | 175      |
| 26        | Tripura                     |          |
| 27        | Uttarakhand                 | 34       |
| 28        | Uttar Pradesh               | 582      |
| 29        | West Bengal                 |          |
| 30        | A&N Islands*                | -        |
| 31        | Chandigarh                  | 3        |
| 32        | Ladakh                      | 0        |
| 33        | D.&N. Haveli and Daman &Diu | 6        |
| 34        | Delhi                       | 4        |
| 35        | Lakshadweep                 | 0        |
| 36        | Puducherry*                 | -        |
| All India | All India                   | 7676     |

Source: State/UTs Animal Husbandry Department