The issues related to stray animals like dogs and monkeys, and the incidents arising there from, and funds available with local bodies to prevent such incidents are under the domain of concerned State Governments. However, as per the data reported on Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (Integrated Health Information Platform) portal under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India by the states/UTs, the details for January 2024 to December 2024 of rural areas across the country is mentioned below-

S.No.	Type of biting animal	Cases	Deaths
1	Dog	2195122	37
2	Other animals including monkey	504728	11

 

As per the data reported by States/UTs on Integrated Health Information Platform portal under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India for dog bite cases to the children less than 15 years of age is 519704 across the country, during Jan-Dec’2024.

The issue of stray animals falls under the purview of State Governments concerned and therefore, local bodies are mandated to handle these incidents. However, the actions taken by the concerned Departments/ Ministries of Government of India to tackle such incidents are as follows :

Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India:

The Central Government has notified the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, to facilitate the management of the stray dog population. Animal Welfare Board of India also provides financial assistance to recognized animal welfare organizations for sheltering stray, injured, or sick animals in their facilities. Additionally, it supports the implementation of animal birth control programs in collaboration with local bodies. The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) collaborates with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to develop comprehensive programs aimed at addressing safety concerns related to stray animals. These programs focus on preventive measures to ensure children's safety. The AWBI has also issued several advisories and guidelines for the management of stray dogs.

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India:

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, issued an advisory on 25.07.2024 to all States and Union Territories regarding the implementation of recommendations made by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to prevent stray dog attacks on children.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India:

Under the Human Health component, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is implementing National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP) since 12th Five-year plan in all States/UTs except for non-endemic areas (Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep) to prevent and control Rabies in the Country. Under the program following initiatives & preventive measures have been taken across the country by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for making rabies free India by 2030

(i) The National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination by 2030 (NAPRE) was developed and launched on September 28, 2021, by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, focusing on Human Health and Animal Health. The implementation of the Human Health component is undertaken by the ‘National Centre for Disease Control’ under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with dedicated budgetary support, while the implementation of the Animal Health component is to be undertaken by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India.  As per Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2023, mass dog vaccination and dog population management are being done by the animal husbandry department in collaboration with local body authorities.

(ii)Under the “National Health Mission”, the states are being supported for implementing the ‘National Rabies Control Program’ through budgetary support by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for Capacity building of the healthcare staff, procurement of anti-rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin, the printing of Information, education and communication (IEC) for rabies & dog bite prevention, for data entry support, review meetings, monitoring and surveillance, the establishment of Model Anti Rabies Clinics & Wound Washing facilities.

• Training modules have been developed for medical officers and health workers. Over 1.19 lakh medical officers and paramedics trained in rabies prevention (from 2019-2023).
• Anti-Rabies Vaccine & Anti-Rabies Serum provided free at government hospitals under National Health Mission’s National Free Drug Initiative.
• To create the awareness to the public and healthcare professionals Dog bite protocols, Information, education and communication (IEC) materials, and training videos on the management of animal bite/dog bite cases for medical officers have been created and disseminated across the country.
• Established 279 Model Anti-Rabies Clinics in the last three years in districts of the states for better treatment of dog bite victims.

(iii) Strengthening of surveillance for Rabies:

• Nine government diagnostic labs strengthened for rabies detection in states/UT
• Human Rabies classified as a notifiable disease in 26 States/UTs following an advisory by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Integration with Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (Integrated Health Information Platform) Portal for strengthened surveillance of animal/dog bites and rabies cases.

(iv)  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 cities of 6 states.

(v) Joint Steering Committees formed at national, state, and district levels to monitor National Rabies Control Programme progress.

(vi) A dedicated Rabies helpline (15400) (in Hindi and English language only) is being piloted initially for five states (Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, and Assam), with plans for subsequent expansion in other states.

This information was given by the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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