Lok Sabha Question No. 2014 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-11
Subject: Stray Animal Welfare
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Harish Chandra Meena

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

UNSTARRED DAIRY NO. 2014

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH      MARCH, 2025

## STRAY ANIMAL WELFARE

2014. SHRI HARISH CHANDRA MEENA:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the steps taken by the Government to overcome the problem of stray dogs, bulls etc. posing threat to pedestrians in the country, State-wise particularly Rajasthan;
- (b) the details of Animal Welfare Committee in the country, State-wise including Tonk Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan;
- (c) whether the Government has allocated any fund for vaccination of stray dogs and welfare of stray bulls; and
- (d) if so, the State-wise details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

(PROF. S.P. BAGHEL)

- a) As per Article 246(3) of the Constitution of India, the preservation, protection, and improvement of livestock, as well as the prevention of animal diseases, veterinary training, and practice, fall under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  State  Governments.  Similarly,  under  Article  243(W)  of  the Constitution of India, local bodies are responsible for managing cattle pounds and Pinjrapoles. Therefore, States may empower Panchayats to establish and operate Cattle Pounds (Kanji Houses) and Gaushala Shelters (community assets) to house stray cattle. Several States have already set up Gaushalas  and  shelters  for  stray  cattle,  providing  food  and  care  to  address  the  issue  of  stray bovines.

The issue of stray dogs can be managed through the effective implementation of birth control programs, specifically through the sterilization of male and female dogs. The Central Government has issued advisories for the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) program by local bodies. Additionally, the Central Government has formulated the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, to guide municipalities in implementing sterilization programs. Local bodies are responsible for executing the ABC program and have allocated funds for its implementation.

As per the information received from the Government of Rajasthan, the State Government's Local Self Government Department, through its municipal bodies, executes the Animal Birth Control Programme for stray dogs across the state. Additionally, castration of local non-descript bulls and male calves is carried out regularly at government hospitals.

To  manage  homeless  cattle  roaming  on  roads,  the  Government  of  Rajasthan  has  initiated  a Nandishala program, providing ₹1.57 crore to each Panchayat Samiti for its establishment. A total provision of ₹651.70 crore has been made for this initiative. As of now, 73 Nandishalas have been constructed at the Panchayat Samiti level. In 19 districts, 57 Nandishalas have received a total state contribution of ₹550.52 crore. Furthermore, the State Government has allocated ₹1 crore per Gram Panchayat for setting up Gaushalas to shelter stray cattle. Till date, 138 proposals from 29 districts have been received from different organizations, out of which 90 organizations have been selected, and 38 have been granted administrative approval. Among them, 34 organizations have already begun operations. A financial assistance of ₹4 crore has been provided to 10 organizations, with each receiving ₹40 lakh as a state contribution.

The State Government has also made provisions to release grants for fodder and water for 270 days, at a rate of ₹44 per day for large animals and ₹22 per day for small animals and their progeny. Additionally, grants are being provided for bulls for 12 months to support their upkeep in Nandi shalas. Special provisions have also been made for disabled, visually impaired, and blind cattle for the entire year. From the financial year 2025-26, the State Government has decided to increase these grants to further strengthen the initiative.

To address the issue of male cattle being abandoned on roads, the Central Government, under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, is implementing sex-sorted semen technology for artificial insemination in cattle. This technology ensures the birth of only female calves, thereby gradually reducing the number of male cattle over time.

Stray cattle can be housed in various Gaushalas, where their waste can be utilized to produce BioCNG  from  cow  dung.  The  required  technology  is  available,  and  the  financial  assistance  for establishing such plants is provided. Efforts are underway to promote this technology, and many Gaushalas and organizations have started producing products from cow dung.

Furthermore,  the  Animal  Welfare  Board  of  India  (AWBI)  issued  advisories  regarding  stray animals to all State Governments and Union Territories via its letter dated July 12, 2018. The AWBI encourages organizations that provide shelter to homeless animals by offering grants-inaid  for  their  care.  AWBI  also  extends  financial  assistance  to  recognized  Animal  Welfare Organizations  (AWOs)  across  various  States,  including  Rajasthan,  under  its  Regular,  Shelter, Ambulance, and Natural Calamities Grants schemes. Details of the grants provided over the last five years are available in Annexure I.

(b) The required information is not maintained.

(c)  &  (d)  The  Government  allocates  funds  under  the  Livestock  Health  and  Disease  Control program  for  vaccinating  all  animals  (both  pre-  and  post-bite)  against  rabies.  The  details  of approved funds and vaccine doses are provided in Annexure II .

Regarding  the  welfare  of  stray  bulls,  no  dedicated  funds  have  been  allocated  by  the  Central Government. However, the assistance provided by the AWBI to Animal Welfare Organizations also includes support for Gaushalas that maintain male cattle. State-wise details are available in Annexure I .

## State-wise summary of Grant released to recognised Animal Welfare Organization or Gaushala during 2019-20 to 2023-24

| SL No   | State          | Shelter House Grant Total AWOs   | Shelter House Grant Total AWOs   | Ambulance   | Ambulance   | Natural Calamity Grant   | Natural Calamity Grant   | Regular Grant& Rescue Cattle Grant   | Regular Grant& Rescue Cattle Grant   |
|---------|----------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|-------------|-------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
|         |                | No. of AWOs                      | Total Grant                      | No. of AWOs | Total Grant | No. of AWOs              | Total Grant              | No. of AWOs                          | Total Grant                          |
| 1       | ANDHRA PRADESH | 0                                | 0                                | 0           | 0           | 0                        | 0                        | 5                                    | 478800                               |
| 2       | CHATTISGARH    | 0                                | 0                                | 0           | 0           | 0                        | 0                        | 4                                    | 260000                               |
| 3       | DELHI          | 0                                | 0                                | 0           | 0           | 0                        | 0                        | 3                                    | 651800                               |
| 4       | GUJARAT        | 2                                | 2250000                          | 0           | 0           | 0                        | 0                        | 16                                   | 3009450                              |
| 5       | HARYANA        | 13                               | 124113565                        | 10          | 4492150     | 1                        | 500000                   | 165                                  | 27944802                             |
| 6       | JHARKHAND      | 0                                | 0                                | 0           | 0           | 0                        | 0                        | 1                                    | 12000                                |
| 7       | MAHARASHTRA    | 1                                | 1068750                          | 0           | 0           | 0                        | 0                        | 19                                   | 2383625                              |
| 8       | MADHYA PRADESH | 20                               | 20024440                         | 2           | 886300      | 0                        | 0                        | 99                                   | 11273775                             |
| 9       | ODISHA         | 0                                | 0                                | 0           | 0           | 2                        | 150000                   | 0                                    | 0                                    |
| 10      | PUNJAB         | 2                                | 2230711                          | 0           | 0           | 0                        | 0                        | 1                                    | 150000                               |
| 11      | RAJASTHAN      | 16                               | 15170840                         | 7           | 3069000     | 1                        | 50000                    | 452                                  | 45186075                             |
| 12      | TAMILNADU      | 1                                | 1068750                          | 0           | 0           | 0                        | 0                        | 8                                    | 339700                               |
| 13      | UTTARAKHAND    | 0                                | 0                                | 0           | 0           | 0                        | 0                        | 4                                    | 1245000                              |
| 14      | UTTAR PRADESH  | 11                               | 11998527                         | 8           | 3600000     | 0                        | 0                        | 349                                  | 40126750                             |
| 15      | WEST BENGAL    | 0                                | 0                                | 0           | 0           | 0                        | 0                        | 10                                   | 723600                               |
|         |                | 66                               | 6,62,25,583                      | 27          | 1,20,47,450 | 4                        | 7,00,000                 | 1136                                 | 13,37,85,377                         |

## Funds released to Rajasthan

| Name of the Scheme                 | State     |   Total AWOs | Total Grant   |
|------------------------------------|-----------|--------------|---------------|
| Shelter House Grant                | Rajasthan |           16 | 1,51,70,840   |
| Ambulance Grant                    | Rajasthan |            7 | 30,69,000     |
| Natural Calamity Grant             | Rajasthan |            1 | 50,000        |
| Regular Grant &Rescue Cattle Grant | Rajasthan |          452 | 4,51,86,075   |

| Details of fund allocated for Rabies vaccines under Livestock Health and Disease Control(LH &DC) during 2023-24   | Details of fund allocated for Rabies vaccines under Livestock Health and Disease Control(LH &DC) during 2023-24   | Details of fund allocated for Rabies vaccines under Livestock Health and Disease Control(LH &DC) during 2023-24   | Details of fund allocated for Rabies vaccines under Livestock Health and Disease Control(LH &DC) during 2023-24   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl. No                                                                                                            | State                                                                                                             | No. of Doses( In Lakh)                                                                                            | Total Amt( ₹ in Lakh).                                                                                            |
| 1                                                                                                                 | Himachal Pradesh                                                                                                  | 0.70                                                                                                              | 7.32                                                                                                              |
| 2                                                                                                                 | J&K                                                                                                               | 0.50                                                                                                              | 5.00                                                                                                              |
| 3                                                                                                                 | Kerala                                                                                                            | 9.90                                                                                                              | 115.83                                                                                                            |
| 4                                                                                                                 | Arunachal Pradesh                                                                                                 | 0.50                                                                                                              | 17.00                                                                                                             |
| 5                                                                                                                 | Sikkim                                                                                                            | 0.30                                                                                                              | 16.20                                                                                                             |
| 6                                                                                                                 | Tripura                                                                                                           | 1.00                                                                                                              | 25.00                                                                                                             |
| 7                                                                                                                 | Rajasthan                                                                                                         | 1.00                                                                                                              | 33.00                                                                                                             |
| 8                                                                                                                 | West Bengal                                                                                                       | 1.15                                                                                                              | 13.28                                                                                                             |
| 9                                                                                                                 | Telangana                                                                                                         | 5.70                                                                                                              | 69.20                                                                                                             |
| 10                                                                                                                | Puducherry                                                                                                        | 0.20                                                                                                              | 6.00                                                                                                              |
| 11                                                                                                                | Assam                                                                                                             | 0.50                                                                                                              | 15.00                                                                                                             |
| 12                                                                                                                | Maharashtra                                                                                                       | 4.07                                                                                                              | 41.84                                                                                                             |
| 13                                                                                                                | Manipur                                                                                                           | 3.00                                                                                                              | 135.00                                                                                                            |
| 14                                                                                                                | Gujarat                                                                                                           | 0.75                                                                                                              | 7.50                                                                                                              |
| 15                                                                                                                | Odisha                                                                                                            | 1.00                                                                                                              | 33.00                                                                                                             |
| 16                                                                                                                | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                    | 7.00                                                                                                              | 91.00                                                                                                             |
| 17                                                                                                                | Chhattisgarh                                                                                                      | 0.28                                                                                                              | 38.40                                                                                                             |
| 18                                                                                                                | Meghalaya                                                                                                         | 1.00                                                                                                              | 34.00                                                                                                             |
| 19                                                                                                                | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                     | 15.00                                                                                                             | 150.00                                                                                                            |
| 20                                                                                                                | Uttarakhand                                                                                                       | 1.00                                                                                                              | 17.00                                                                                                             |
| 21                                                                                                                | Karnataka                                                                                                         | 10.00                                                                                                             | 210.00                                                                                                            |
|                                                                                                                   | Total                                                                                                             | 64.55                                                                                                             | 1080.57                                                                                                           |