
Over 37 Lakh Dog Bite Cases In 2024: Centre Steps Up Stray Dog Control Measures
Municipalities, under Article 243(W), are mandated to implement the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Programme, focusing on neutering and anti-rabies vaccination of stray dogs. To streamline this, the government notified the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, superseding the earlier 2001 rules.
These new rules incorporate Supreme Court and Delhi High Court directives, including guidelines for feeding and care of community animals. The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has issued multiple advisories to ensure effective street dog population control and promote man-dog conflict resolution.
Between 2024 and June 2025, 166 letters were sent to RWAs and local bodies to ensure compliance.
On the health front, the Ministry of Health is implementing the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP), which includes setting up Model Anti-Rabies Clinics, ensuring vaccine availability, and launching the "Rabies-Free City" initiative.
Additionally, the Centre has allocated Rs 3,535.86 lakh over the past five years for anti-rabies vaccine procurement under the ASCAD scheme, including Rs 1,423.41 lakh in 2024-25 for over 80 lakh doses. The government has also urged States/UTs to adopt the ABC Programme through local bodies to enhance public safety, particularly for children.
The Department of Animal Husbandry conducts a five-year livestock census, which includes stray dogs, while municipalities have been advised to conduct annual local censuses under the ABC Rules.
The Centre's comprehensive approach aims to address both public health and animal welfare in tackling the growing stray dog issue.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hans India
14 minutes ago
- Hans India
ONGC to fund cancer infrastructure in three hospitals
Kakinada: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has agreed to provide financial support for the installation of advanced radiation machines for cancer treatment at government hospitals in Kakinada, Guntur, and Kadapa districts. The initiative, costing Rs 48 crore, will be funded under ONGC's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. The decision was taken following a meeting between Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri and a delegation comprising Dr P Chandrasekhar, Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, and Rajya Sabha MP Sana Satish Babu. During the meeting held in New Delhi on Thursday, the leaders sought central assistance in strengthening the fight against cancer in Andhra Pradesh. Speaking to 'The Hans India', MP Satish Babu said that the proposal involved the procurement of three state-of-the-art radiation therapy machines, each worth approximately Rs 16 crore. Minister Puri responded positively and initiated discussions with ONGC officials, leading to the company's commitment to provide the equipment. He also said that these machines will play a crucial role in the early detection and effective radiation treatment of cancer. The equipment will soon be installed at the respective government hospitals, significantly enhancing oncology infrastructure and care in the region.


Deccan Herald
2 hours ago
- Deccan Herald
K'taka govt okays Rs 88.68 cr for procurement of essential drugs
Special support for hemophilia care is to ensure timely availability of life-saving treatment and continuous care. The department is procuring seven anti-haemophilia drugs at an estimated cost of Rs 42.5 crore.


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Fees in some state medical colleges slashed, up 50,000 to 1L in others
Mumbai: In a quiet recalibration of what it costs to become a doctor in Maharashtra, the Fee Regulating Authority (FRA) has taken the scalpel to annual medical college fees—slashing some, nudging others. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Leading the markdown was Vedantaa Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS), Palghar, a college known for its high fees. The FRA, after two days of deliberations this week, trimmed its MBBS fees from Rs 17.03 lakh to Rs 15.57 lakh, making this one of the steepest fee corrections the regulator pushed through in recent years. FRA also pulled down its annual PG (MD/MS) fees from Rs 19.32 lakh to Rs 13.11 lakh—a Rs 6.21 lakh drop that left aspirants sighing in relief. This is followed by the annual fees at Kashibai Navle Medical College and Somaiya Medical College. For most other colleges, the FRA chose to push up fees, and the hikes hovered between Rs 50,000 and Rs 1 lakh. At the upper end, BKL Walawalkar Rural Medical College in Chiplun (Ratnagiri) saw a Rs 1.06 lakh rise in its MBBS fee tag. Over at Nashik, SMBT Institute of Medical Sciences was cleared to charge Rs 1.18 lakh more fee for its MD/MS course. "If EWS quota has to be implemented in private colleges, it will change the dynamics of the fees set. We are seeking clarity from the state on this aspect," said the principal of a medical school. While the medical seat matrix is yet to be declared, one private college is slated to get approval from the National Medical Commission. The FRA has set the ad hoc fees for first-year MBBS at Rs 8.5 lakh. "It is heartening to see that fees of certain colleges have been reduced. We have been recording that while fees ought to have increased by 5%, the hikes in the past few years were a lot more," said parent representative Sudha Shenoy. However, Shenoy urged the FRA to press upon colleges to not make hostel fees mandatorily payable and use of hostel be kept optional.