Lok Sabha Question No. 286 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-22
Subject: Stray Dogs
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Dr. Bachhav Shobha Dinesh

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 286 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 ND  JULY, 2025

## STRAY DOGS

## 286 DR. BACHHAV SHOBHA DINESH:

## 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 eliminate the problem of stray dogs which pose a threat to passers-by;
- (b)  the  details  of  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  that  every  Residential  Welfare Association (RWA) or Municipal Corporation has an animal welfare committee according to a Delhi High Court judgment in 2021;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to penalize the RWA for not complying with the High Court guidelines and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has any proposal to conduct census or order Municipalities to conduct of stray dogs, if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the number of incidents of stray dog bite reported and persons injured and died in the country during last one year;
- (f) whether the Government has allocated any funds for the vaccination of stray dogs; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI S. P. SINGH BAGHEL)

(a) As per Articles 243(W), municipalities are mandated to control the stray dog population. Accordingly, municipalities are implementing the Animal Birth Control Programme to regulate the  population  of  stray  dogs.  To  support  effective  dog  population  management,  the  Central Government notified the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, vide G.S.R. 193(E) dated 10th March 2023, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, superseding the earlier ABC (Dog) Rules, 2001. These rules focus on the neutering and anti-rabies vaccination of stray dogs as means of population stabilization.

Further,  the  Department  of  Animal  Husbandry  and  Dairying  (DAHD),  Government  of India, issued an advisory on 11.11.2024 to Chief Secretaries/Administrators of States/UTs, urging the implementation of the ABC Programme and related activities through local bodies. This was aimed at ensuring the safety and security of children, especially toddlers, from stray dog attacks.

Additionally, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has issued several advisories and guidelines to address issues related to stray dogs, including:

- Revised Animal Birth Control Module for Street Dog Population Management, Rabies Eradication, and Reducing Man-Dog Conflict;
- Circular on Pet Dogs and Street Dogs dated 26.02.2015;
- Advisories for rescue and rehabilitation of stray animals dated 12.07.2018 and 27.02.2020;
- Advisory for implementation of the ABC Programme dated 17.12.2021;
- Request to implement and circulate the standard protocol for community animal adoption dated 17.05.2022;
- Guidelines on use of muzzles and care for community dogs dated 17.08.2022; and
- Letter dated 01.10.2024 urging recognized animal welfare organizations to participate in tenders floated by Municipal Corporations/Local Bodies for implementing ABC Rules, 2023.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, handles the human health aspect related to dog bites and rabies. Under the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP), the following initiatives have been undertaken:

- Launch of the National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination;
- Budgetary support to States/UTs under National Rabies Control Program(NRCP);
- Ensuring  availability  of  Anti-Rabies  Vaccine  (ARV)  and  Anti-Rabies  Serum  (ARS)  at health facilities;
- Conducting workshops to formulate State Action Plans for rabies elimination;
- Establishment of Model Anti-Rabies Clinics across the states;
- Strengthening rabies diagnostic laboratories;
- Issuance of advisories and communication to States;
- Launch of the "Rabies-Free City" initiative;
- Constitution of National and State-level Committees under NRCP;
- Development of guidelines and resource documents;
- Conduct of training programmes;
- Community awareness campaigns on dog bites and rabies;
- Observance of World Rabies Day;
- Launch of a dedicated NRCP website;
- Establishment of a rabies helpline; and
- Strengthening of rabies surveillance mechanisms.

(b) The  Animal  Birth  Control  Rules,  2023,  notified  in  supersession  of  the  2001  Rules, incorporate the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India and the Hon'ble Delhi High Court. Rule 20 of the ABC Rules, 2023 addresses the feeding of community animals, assigning responsibility to the Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), Apartment Owners' Associations (AOAs), or Local Bodies, including the formation of Animal Welfare Committees.

On receiving complaints related to feeding of community animals, AWBI writes to the concerned RWAs, AOAs, or Local Bodies for appropriate action. During 2024 -25 and up to June 2025, the Board has issued 166 such letters.

- (c) There is no provision to penalize RWAs for non-compliance with High Court guidelines.
- (d) The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying conducts a livestock census every five years which also includes enumeration of stray dogs. However, municipalities may carry out their own census annually to determine local numbers as per ABC Rules, 2023
- (e) The data on total number of reported dog bite cases and suspected human rabies deaths, is collected from States/UTs under the National Rabies Control Program by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The NCDC has provided the information for 2024, in the table below:
- (f) and (g)  The Department provides financial support under the Assistance to State for Control of  Animal  Diseases  (ASCAD)  component  of  the  Livestock  Health  and  Disease  Control Programme for procurement of anti-rabies vaccines for animals, including stray dogs. The details of funds approved to States/UTs over the past five years are as follows:

| Year                                |    2024 |
|-------------------------------------|---------|
| Total Dog Bite Cases                | 3717336 |
| Total suspected Human Rabies Deaths |      54 |

| Details of fund approved for procurement of Anti-Rabies vaccine under ASCAD during last five Years (Rs.in lakh)   | Details of fund approved for procurement of Anti-Rabies vaccine under ASCAD during last five Years (Rs.in lakh)   | Details of fund approved for procurement of Anti-Rabies vaccine under ASCAD during last five Years (Rs.in lakh)   | Details of fund approved for procurement of Anti-Rabies vaccine under ASCAD during last five Years (Rs.in lakh)   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Years                                                                                                             | No. of Doses (in Lakhs)                                                                                           | Total Amt. approved (CS+SS)                                                                                       | Central Share approved                                                                                            |
| FY 2020-21                                                                                                        | 25.56                                                                                                             | 275.28                                                                                                            | 213.35                                                                                                            |
| FY 2021-22                                                                                                        | 41.76                                                                                                             | 281.60                                                                                                            | 244.46                                                                                                            |
| FY 2022-23                                                                                                        | 18.44                                                                                                             | 475.00                                                                                                            | 338.19                                                                                                            |
| FY 2023-24                                                                                                        | 64.55                                                                                                             | 1080.57                                                                                                           | 716.85                                                                                                            |
| FY 2024-25                                                                                                        | 80.19                                                                                                             | 1423.41                                                                                                           | 956.92                                                                                                            |
| Total                                                                                                             | 230.5                                                                                                             | 3535.86                                                                                                           | 2469.77                                                                                                           |