Lok Sabha Question No. 239 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-05
Subject: Animal Welfare Organisations
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Brijmohan Agrawal

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

ADMITTED STARRED QUESTION NO. *239

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANISATIONS

*239. SHRI BRIJMOHAN AGRAWAL:

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

be pleased to state:

- (a) the process of accreditation of Animal Welfare Organisation (AWO) along with the list of all the accredited AWOs in the country;
- (b) the details of various grant-in-aid schemes of the Animal Welfare Board during the last five financial years;
- (c) the details and number of complaints of animal cruelty registered in the country during the said period and the action taken by the Government thereon, State and Union Territory-wise particularly Chhattisgarh; and
- (d) the details and number of awareness programmes/campaigns launched by the Government to prevent the incidents of animal cruelty in the country during the last three years?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER FOR FISHERIES ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

- (a) to (d) Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY OF LOKSABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.239 PART (a) to (d) ON ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION

- (a) The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) does not have accreditation system for Animal Welfare Organisations (AWOs). However, the AWBI recognizes AWOs, including NGOs, Trusts, and Section 8 Companies, which are generally registered under the respective state laws such as the Societies Registration Act, Trust Act, Companies Act, or Gaushala Act. Since 2022, for recognition by AWBI, such organizations are required to obtain a Unique Identification Number (UIN) by registering on the DARPAN portal of NITI Aayog, and must have been actively engaged in animal welfare activities for a minimum period of three years.  To  facilitate  this  process,  the  AWBI  has  developed  an  online  application  portal (www.awbi.gov.in) through which eligible organizations may submit their applications. As of now, a total of 3,587 Animal Welfare Organisations, including Gaushalas, have been recognized across the country since inception, of which 945 are registered on the DARPAN portal.The list of recognized Animal Welfare Organizations is available on the website of the Animal Welfare Board of India https://awbi.gov.in/uploads/documents/175388176646Update%20Recognition%20list%20 dt.%2010.07.2025\_compressed.pdf.
- (b)  The Animal Welfare Board of India implemented the following schemes during the last five financial years:
- (i) Regular and Rescue Cattle Grant : Financial assistance was provided to recognized Animal Welfare Organisations (AWOs) as regular grants for maintenance of animal shelters, veterinary care, feed and fodder, etc., as per prescribed norms. Assistance was also extended for the care of animals rescued from illegal transportation, upon submission of a relevant First Information Report (FIR). The grant for such rescued animals was admissible for a maximum period of two years in cases involving pending litigation.
- (ii) Scheme for Shelter Houses for Animals :  Assistance  was  provided  to  recognized AWOs  and  Societies  for  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to  Animals  (SPCAs)  for  the construction  of  boundary  walls,  shelters,  water  tanks,  drainage  systems,  in-house dispensaries, procurement of medical equipment, and meeting contingency requirements. A maximum grant of ₹22.50 lakh is provided, excluding a mandatory 10% contribution from the applicant organization.
- (iii) Scheme for Provision of Ambulance Services for Animals in Distress : Recognized AWOs were provided assistance for the purchase and modification of suitable vehicles to  function  as  ambulances  for  the  rescue  and  emergency  treatment  of  animals  in distress. The scheme covered 90% of the cost, with a grant-in-aid limited to ₹3.50 lakh for the vehicle and ₹1.00 lakh for equipment and fittings.
- (iv) Scheme for Birth Control and Immunization of Stray Dogs : Recognized AWOs were supported under this scheme for carrying out sterilization and immunization of stray dogs. Financial assistance was provided up to ₹445 per dog, as per the scheme guidelines.
- (v) Scheme for Relief to Animals during Natural Calamities : Assistance was extended to  AWOs, State Governments/UT Administrations, and local bodies for providing immediate relief to animals affected by natural calamities such as floods, droughts, and earthquakes. Support included provision of fodder, shelter, medical attention, and other essential relief measures.

The financial assistance provided by the AWBI under the different schemes during the last five years as under:

(Rs. In lakh)

| Scheme               |   2020-21 | 2021-22   | 2022-23   | 2023-24   | 2024-25   |
|----------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Regular Grant        |    130    | 199       | 445       | 408       | 39.98     |
| Animal Birth Control |      2.12 | -         | -         | -         | -         |
| Ambulance            |     49.41 | 48.56     | 48.65     | -         | -         |
| Natural Calamity     |      2    | -         | 5.0       | -         | -         |
| Shelter Grant        |    150    | 150       | 70.03     | 42.22     | 30.24     |
| Total                |    333.53 | 397.56    | 568.68    | 450.22    | 70.22     |

The aforementioned schemes have been revised and modified by the Central Government to be implemented from 2025-26 by the Animal Welfare Board of India as follows:

- (i) Scheme for Animal Shelter seeking grants in aid for old, distress, homeless, injured  and  sick  animals for  which  assistance  will  provided  to  Urban  Local Bodies, Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) up to Rs. 27 lakh and 15 lakh for establishment of large and small animal shelter houses
- (ii) Scheme for providing financial  assistance  for  veterinary  care  and  rescued animals:  Assistance  will  be  provide  to  the Gaushalas,  Pinjrapoles,  SPCAs, ULBs,  or  Government  Institutions  based  on  the  capacity  of  animals  from  Rs. 25000 to Rs. 10 lakh for veterinary care of animals sheltered by them and rescuing of animals from illegal transportation and slaughtering..
- (iii) Scheme  for  Birth  Control  and  immunization  of  stray  dogs :  Assistance  is provided up to Rs. 800/- per dog and Rs. 600/- for cats to SPCAs and Local Bodies, for  carrying  out  the  Animal  Birth  Control  programme  as  per  the  Animal  Birth Control Rules, 2023.

Further,  the  scheme  also  envisaged Assistance  to  the  Government  Veterinary Dispensaries  of  the  State  Animal  Husbandry  Departments  upto  Rs.  2.0  cr  to upgrade  the  same  to  Animal  Birth  Control  Unit,  interested  in  conducting  dog sterilization as per the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023

- (c) The subject of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals falls under the Concurrent List (List III) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 contains  enabling  provisions  for  imposing  penalties  on  persons  found  guilty  of  cruelty towards animals. While complaints of animal cruelty are primarily addressed by the local administration and law enforcement authorities under the respective State Governments, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) also plays an active role.

Upon receiving  complaints  of  cruelty  to  animals  from  various  parts  of  the  country,  the AWBI pursues  such  matters  by  forwarding  them  to  the  concerned  State  Governments, District Magistrates, Collectors, and Superintendents of Police for necessary action under prevailing laws.

Over the last five years, the AWBI has referred a total of 4,939 complaints to the respective authorities  for  action.  Year-wise  details  of  complaints  received  and  action  taken  are available on the official AWBI website at the following link: https://awbi.gov.in/Cruelty

As regards the State of Chhattisgarh, 20 complaints were addressed by the AWBI over the past five years.

(d) Over the  last  three  years,  the  Animal  Welfare  Board  of  India  (AWBI)  has  undertaken several initiatives to raise public awareness and promote animal welfare. These efforts include organizing  15  awareness  and  training  programmes  and  issuing  35  advisories  and  circulars addressing various welfare concerns.

Beginning this year, the Central Government has instituted Animal Husbandry and Animal Welfare Month, to be observed annually from January 14 to February 13. For the current year, with the campaign extended until March 13, a wide range of activities have been carried out by this Department and various State Governments. These include one national-level webinar, 672 health  check-up  camps,  641  infertility  camps,  598  awareness  camps  and  Gosthis,  408 vaccination  camps,  118  workshops,  126  programmes  for  Gaushalas,  100  competitions  in schools and colleges, 38 calf rallies, 35 livestock fairs, 30 milk competitions or pure breed competitions, 16 online webinars, 9 radio and television programmes, and 495 other outreach activities.

The AWBI continues to promote animal welfare through a range of educational and awareness initiatives. It collaborates with State Governments and Animal Welfare Organizations (AWOs) to  organize  seminars,  workshops,  and  campaigns.  The  Board  has  published  handbooks  on animal welfare laws and population management, and conducts training for Honorary Animal Welfare Representatives, Colony Animal Caretakers, Gaushala personnel, and police officials to encourage community involvement and strengthen enforcement.

Regular meetings with State Animal Welfare Boards support the effective implementation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. To recognize outstanding contributions in the field of animal welfare, AWBI also confers national-level honours such as the Prani Mitra and Jeev Daya Awards.

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