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 Bio-CNG 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-in-aid 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.

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.

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		Ambulance Grant		Natural Calamity 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	TAMIL NADU	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

 

Annexure II

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

This information was given by Union Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 11th March, 2025.

*******

AA

(Release ID: 2110271) Visitor Counter : 285