Lok Sabha Question No. 2373 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-06
Subject: Scientific Management of Stray Dog Population
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Prof. Sougata Ray

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2373 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 TH  AUGUST 2024

## SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT OF STRAY DOG POPULATION

2373. PROF. SOUGATA RAY:

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

be pleased to state that:

- (a) whether the Government adopted any scientific management system to control stray dog population in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government noticed that a large number of attacks by stray dogs in all parts of the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has any proposal to review the present Animal Birth Control Rules, if so, the details thereof, if so, the details therefor;
- (d) whether the World Health Organisation(WHO) find is true that India accounted above 36% of world rabies deaths; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and steps taken to check such alarming situation?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The  Central  Government  has  notified  the  Animal  Birth  Control  Rules,  2023  vide G.S.R. 193(E) dated 10 th March, 2023 under The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 after superseding the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001. These Rules aim to address stray dog population management through sterilization and immunization programs.
- (b) The number of dog bite reported in the country under Integrated Disease Surveillance Plan-Integrated Health Information Platform (IDSP-IHIP) during last five years is as under:
- (c) The Central Government has only recently notified the Animal Birth Control Rules 2023 vide G.S.R. 193(E) dated 10 th March, 2023 under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 after superseding the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001.
- (d) to (e)  As per World Health Organisation (WHO)- the number of human deaths globally due to dog-mediated rabies is estimated to be 59,000 annually, and India accounts for 20,565 (35%) deaths annually. These estimates are as per the study conducted in 2004. The Ministry

| Year   |    2019 |    2020 |    2021 |    2022 |    2023 |
|--------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|
| Number | 7277523 | 4633493 | 1701133 | 2180185 | 3043339 |

of Health & Family Welfare 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.

Following initiatives have been taken by Ministries /Departments concerned for prevention and control of Rabies in India.

- Under the 'National Health Mission' implemented by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India,  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.
- The  Department  of  Animal  Husbandry  &  Dairying,  Ministry  of  Fisheries,  Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Govt. of India  is financially assisting States for purchase of antirabies vaccine   under the component  'Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases' (ASCAD) of   Livestock Health & Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) as per the demand and action plan received from the States. During  last 3 financial years, total Rs.719.73 Lakhs was  released  to  States  as  Central  share  for  purchase  of  127.37  Lakhs  anti  rabies  vaccine doses. As per   information received from states, in last three years, 101.54 Lakhs anti rabies vaccine  is  administered  in  dogs,  12.85  Lakhs  anti-rabies  vaccine  is  administered  in  other animals and 24.53 Lakhs dogs are sterilized.
- Moreover, the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying formulated National Action Plan for the dog mediated rabies elimination from India by 2030(NAPRE) in collaboration with Ministry of Health & Family Welfare,  Govt.  of  India.  This  Ministry  is  actively  participated  in  Regional  and  State  level workshops  conducted  for  formulation  of  'State  Action  Plan  for  Dog  Mediated  Rabies Elimination(SAPRE) and providing technical support to states for drafting the Animal Health component of SAPRE as per steps specified in National Action Plan.
- Further, dog population management is one of the key functions for controlling dog bite  cases.  In  this  regard,  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 authorities for management of dogs and responsible pet parentships.

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