Lok Sabha Question No. 362 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-04
Subject: Menace of Stray Animals
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Thiru Arun Nehru

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 362

TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  FEBRUARY, 2025

## MENACE OF STRAY ANIMALS

## 362. Shri Thiru Arun Nehru:

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

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there are lot of issues with respect to stray animals like dogs and monkeys in rural areas, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) if so, whether the local bodies don't have sufficient funds to handle such incidents;
- (c) whether there have been incidents where children have been hurt and if so, the details thereof, and
- (d) the actions taken to tackle such incidents with sound policy.

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) The issues related to stray animals like dogs and monkeys, and the incidents arising there from, and funds available with local bodies to prevent such incidents are under the domain of concerned State Governments.  However,  as  per  the  data  reported  on  Integrated  Disease  Surveillance  Programme (Integrated  Health Information Platform)  portal  under  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare, Government of India by the states/UTs, the details for January 2024 to December 2024 of rural areas across the country is mentioned below-

|   S.No. | Type of biting animal          |   Cases |   Deaths |
|---------|--------------------------------|---------|----------|
|       1 | Dog                            | 2195122 |       37 |
|       2 | Other animals including monkey |  504728 |       11 |

(c)  As  per  the  data  reported  by  States/UTs  on  Integrated  Health  Information  Platform  portal  under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India for dog bite cases to the children less than 15 years of age is 519704 across the country, during Jan-Dec'2024.

(d)  The issue of stray animals falls under the purview of State Governments concerned and therefore, local  bodies  are  mandated  to  handle  these  incidents.  However,  the  actions  taken  by  the  concerned Departments/ Ministries of Government of India to tackle such incidents are as follows :

## Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India :

The Central  Government has notified the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 , to facilitate the management of the stray dog population. Animal Welfare Board  of  India also  provides  financial  assistance  to  recognized  animal  welfare  organizations  for sheltering stray, injured, or sick animals in their facilities. Additionally, it supports the implementation of animal birth control programs in collaboration with local bodies. The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) collaborates with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to develop comprehensive programs aimed at addressing safety concerns related to stray animals. These programs focus on preventive measures to ensure children's safety. The AWBI has also issued several advisories and guidelines for the management of stray dogs.

## Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India:

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, issued an advisory on 25.07.2024 to all States and Union Territories regarding the implementation of recommendations made by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to prevent stray dog attacks on children.

## Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India:

Under the Human Health component, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is implementing National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP) since 12th Five-year plan in all States/UTs except for non-endemic areas (Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep) to prevent and control Rabies in the Country. Under the program following initiatives & preventive measures have been taken across the country by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for making rabies free India by 2030

(i)  The National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination by 2030 (NAPRE) was developed and  launched  on  September  28,  2021,  by  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  and  Ministry  of Fisheries,  Animal  Husbandry  &  Dairying,  focusing  on  Human  Health  and  Animal  Health.  The implementation  of  the  Human  Health  component  is  undertaken  by  the  'National  Centre  for  Disease Control'  under  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  with  dedicated  budgetary  support,  while  the implementation  of  the  Animal  Health  component  is  to  be  undertaken  by  the  Department  of  Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India.  As per Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2023, mass dog vaccination and dog population management are being done by the animal husbandry department in collaboration with local body authorities.

(ii) Under the 'National Health Mission', the states are being supported for implementing the 'National Rabies  Control  Program'  through  budgetary  support  by  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  for Capacity building of the healthcare staff, procurement of anti-rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin, the printing of Information, education and communication (IEC) for rabies & dog bite prevention, for data entry  support,  review  meetings,  monitoring  and  surveillance,  the  establishment  of  Model  Anti  Rabies Clinics & Wound Washing facilities.

-  Training modules have been developed for medical officers and health workers. Over 1.19 lakh medical officers and paramedics trained in rabies prevention (from 2019-2023).
-  Anti-Rabies Vaccine & Anti-Rabies Serum provided free at government hospitals under National Health Mission's National Free Drug Initiative.
-  To  create  the  awareness  to  the  public and  healthcare  professionals  Dog  bite  protocols, Information, education and communication  (IEC) materials, and training videos on the management  of  animal  bite/dog  bite cases for medical officers  have  been created and disseminated across the country.
-  Established  279  Model  Anti-Rabies  Clinics  in  the  last  three  years  in  districts  of  the  states  for better treatment of dog bite victims.

(iii) Strengthening of surveillance for Rabies:

-  Nine government diagnostic labs strengthened for rabies detection in states/UT
-  Human  Rabies  classified  as  a  notifiable  disease  in  26  States/UTs  following  an  advisory  by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
-  Integration  with  Integrated  Disease  Surveillance  Programme  (Integrated  Health  Information Platform) Portal for strengthened surveillance of animal/dog bites and rabies cases.
- (iv)  The Rabies-Free Cities initiative has commenced in a phased manner, targeting Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities for rabies prevention and action plan preparation initially for 15 cities of 6 states.
- (v) Joint Steering Committees formed at national, state, and district levels to monitor National Rabies Control Programme progress.
- (vi) A dedicated Rabies helpline (15400) (in Hindi and English language only) is being piloted initially for five states (Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, and Assam), with plans for subsequent expansion in other states.

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