Lok Sabha Question No. 1290 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-30
Subject: Stray Dog
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Atul Garg

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1290

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 th  JULY, 2024

## STRAY DOG

## 1290.  SHRI ATUL GARG:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number of incidents of stray dog bite reported and persons injured and died in the country during last one year;
- (b) the  number  of  persons  administered  with  Anti-Rabies  shots  who  got  injured  by  Stray dogs;
- (c) whether any measures have been taken to check the menace of stray dogs in the cities; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) As  per  the  data  captured  in  the  Integrated  Disease  Surveillance  Programme  (IDSP) implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, total 30,43,339 number of dog bite cases reported during 2023. During the year, 286 persons died due to dog bite.
- (b) Number of anti-rabies shots  for  dog  bite  cases  during  the  year  2023  was  46,54,398  as reported by National Centre for Disease Control.
- (c)  to  (d)  The  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare(MoH  &FW)  is  implementing  National Rabies Control Programme since 12th Five-year plan in all States/UTs except for Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep to prevent and control Rabies in the Country.

The objective of the programme is as follows-

1. Capacity  Building  of  States  and  district  level  manpower  for  prevention  and  control  of rabies
2. Promote  of  cost  effective Intra-dermal  rabies  vaccines  for  Rabies  Post  Exposure Prophylaxis.
3. Strengthen rabies diagnostics
4. Strengthening Surveillance of animal bites and rabies cases
5. Information, Education & Communication
6. Intersectional coordination
7. Operational Research
8. The state and District level activity is implementing through NHM PIP Mechanism.

Following initiatives have been undertaken by MoH&FW for prevention and control of Rabies in India-

- ■ Under the 'National Health Mission', the states are being supported by providing budget for  implementing  the  'National  Rabies  Control  Program'  through  budget  for  Capacity building of the healthcare staff, procurement of rabies vaccines and Rabies Immunoglobulin,  Awareness  generation  for  Rabies  Prevention &  Control,  review meetings, Monitoring and Surveillance, establishment of Model Anti Rabies Clinics & Wound Washing facilities.
- ■ Anti-Rabies  vaccine  and  Anti-Rabies  Serum  is  included  in  essential  list  and  has  been included in the National Free Drug Initiative under NHM in FY 2019-20.
- ■ National  Action  Plan  for  Dog-Mediated  Rabies  Elimination  by  2030"  (NAPRE)  was jointly launched on World Rabies Day with a vision to Eliminate Dog Mediated rabies in India by 2030.
- ■ Communication from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India  (GoI),  was  sent  to  all  states  and  UTs  for  making  Rabies  as  Notifiable  disease. Presently, Human Rabies is notifiable in 23 States/UTs.
- ■ Rabies  helpline  (15400)  has  been  launched  initially  for  five  states  (Madhya  Pradesh, Delhi, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, and Assam), with plans for subsequent launches in other states.
- ■ 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 states.
- ■ Various guidelines on rabies prophylaxis and training modules have been formulated and shared with states for reference and implementation.
- ■ Training  modules  have  been  developed  for  medical  officers  and  health  workers. Numerous training sessions for healthcare professionals on proper animal bite management and rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) have been conducted across all States/UTs.
- ■ Regular IEC activities are undertaken by States and District for generating awareness on do's and don't's following a dog bite, management of Rabies cases etc. (https://rabiesfreeindia.mohfw.gov.in/iec)

Further, dog population management is one of the key functions for controlling dog bite cases. In this regard, many Local Bodies are implementing the Animal Birth Control Programme and Anti Rabies Vaccination for which the Central Government has framed Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023. The Animal Welfare Board of India has issued various Advisories for the public and local authorizes for management of dogs and responsible pet parent ships. The Central Government is also  providing  funds  to  the  State  Government  under  Assistant  to  State  for  control  of  Animal Diseases. The State Government can also utilize fund for Rabies vaccination.

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