Lok Sabha Question No. 2815 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-18
Subject: Stray Animals
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Amra Ram

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2815

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH  MARCH, 2025

## STRAY ANIMALS

## 2815.  SHRI AMRA RAM:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING:

मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री

Be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the action plan formulated by the Government to stop the menace of stray animals causing loss of life and crop of farmers; and
- (b) the details of other measures taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE HON'BLE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

(Sh. S. P. SINGH BAGHEL)

(a) and (b): As per Article 246(3) of the Constitution of India, the responsibility for preserving, protecting, and improving livestock, along with preventing animal diseases, veterinary training, and practice, lies with the State Governments. Likewise, under Article 243(W) of the Constitution, local bodies are tasked with managing cattle pounds and Pinjrapoles. Accordingly, States may authorize Panchayats to establish and manage Cattle Pounds (Kanji Houses) and Gaushala Shelters (community assets) for housing stray cattle. Several States have already set up Gaushalas and shelters, ensuring food and care for stray bovines to address the issue effectively.

Moreover, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), through its letter dated July 12, 2018, issued advisories regarding stray animals to all State Governments and Union Territories. AWBI promotes shelters for homeless animals by offering grants-in-aid for their upkeep within the Government of India's allocated budget. It also provides financial assistance to recognized Animal Welfare Organizations (AWOs) in various States under the Regular, Shelter, Ambulance, and Natural Calamities Grants schemes.

Furthermore, the Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories were requested via letter dated March 27, 2023, to allocate sufficient land and facilities for the establishment of infirmaries by the Society for Prevention of  Cruelty  to  Animals  (SPCA).  This  initiative  is  in  accordance  with  the  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to  Animals (Establishment and Regulations of Societies for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Rules, 2001, facilitating the construction of infirmaries and animal shelters.

Various Gaushalas serve as shelters for stray cattle, where cow dung can be utilized for Bio-CNG production. The  necessary  technology  is  already  available,  and  the  Central  Government  provides  financial  aid  for establishing  such  plants.  Efforts  are  underway  to  expand  this  technology,  with  several  Gaushalas  and organizations already producing cow dung-based products.

To address this issue of abandoned male animals, the Central Government is implementing sex-sorted semen technology under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission for artificial insemination of cattle. This technology aims to produce only female calves, thereby gradually reducing the number of male cattle over time.

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